SubscribeCurrent military and surveillance technology has made it possible to obtain extensive information about hostile environments at low risk to human lives.
However, satellite imaging and other aerial based technologies are of little use in close quarter ground operations in closed areas such as buildings, caves and similar structures.
Macroswiss S.A. believes that there is an ever increasing need to provide a simple and effective means of extending ground forces’ visual perception in hostile environments while reducing their exposure to danger. We have designed a line of remotely operated security and surveillance tools (ranging from wireless video cameras to custom UGVs) which provide these benefits and will describe one of these tools helps solve common problems encountered by military and security forces.
Problem:
Ground forces are often exposed to risk when entering a building which may contain a terrorist or other criminal, specifically when walking up stairs, around corners, or entering rooms. The enemy inside the building has a positional advantage whereas soldiers or police in pursuit are an easy target.
Solution:
The Macroswiss Giraffe (see picture) enables the user to obtain visual information from dangerous or inaccessible areas and will enable the user to avoid being seen or put in danger. The Giraffe can be used to examine:
- Inside second story windows
- Over walls
- On top of, inside, and under trucks (for car bombs)
- Around corners
- Ponds and water areas for bombs
- Under boat and ship hulls
The Giraffe system consists of three components:
- a lightweight telescopic aluminum pole attached to a high definition video camera,
- a wearable video receiver, and
- a MIL spec cable to connect the camera to the receiver.
The telescopic unit is stored inside a PVC housing internally padded with neoprene to protect it during transportation. The other components are carried in a weatherproof padded Nylon carrying case.
Features& Benefits:
- Telescopic pole: Easy to store and carry when collapsed. Provides range when extended. Different lengths available ranging form 250 cm extended (110 cm collapsed, including carrying case) to 550 cm extended (220 cm collapsed including carrying case).
- Fully IP68: Both the receiver and the camera can be immersed in 10 feet of water and used in a range of conditions.
- Rugged design: Designed for use in harsh environments (dust, water, mud, etc.).
- Night/day operation: Infrared illumination capabilities. Several camera options available with automatic switching from high definition (up to 520 TV lines) full colour to IR or with B&W IR with IR illumination decided by the operator.
- Light weight: Easy to transport and to use when fully extended.
- Long battery life: 9 hours of use with internal lead batteries. Extra 4 hours with optional external Lithium Polymer auxiliary battery packs (hot-swappable).
- Video output: Images viewed through the Giraffe can be recorded (recorder not included).
Options:
- Wearable eyepiece HUD (not included)
- Several lengths ranging from 0.8m collapsed (2.5m fully extended) to 2.2m collapsed (5.5m fully extended)
- External lithium polymer battery packs for extra operating time
- Body-worn holster to stabilize telescopic pole when fully extended
- Tripod for several hours of continuous fixed surveillance capability
- External IP68 digital recorder (mpeg 4)
Macroswiss can also produce a scuba diving Giraffe for use in depths up to 40m on special request.
