Winning this contract demonstrates team2’s position as a leading technology provider of mobile cell-based IP video streaming technologies and our successful strategy in designing and delivering highquality, reliable and IT-security enabled networking and tactical video solutions that meet the most stringent specifications of governmental surveillance markets. The project required a rugged, reliable, and versatile end-toend solution, for which the VITEC MGW Pico+ TOUGH and Diamond TOUGH Encoders are the perfect fit. They provide every capability for processing and distributing ISR or situational awareness video generated by surveillance helicopters.
— Christoph Eder
General Manager, team2applications
VITEC Gets Airborne with German Police Force
Mission-critical applications require informed decision-making and a fast response to operational challenges. One increasingly essential tool in achieving this is live, high-quality video of the on-going situation that can be simultaneously shared and viewed by all levels of a command structure. The encoding equipment required to deliver on this needs to be operationally proven, ruggedly constructed and require low amounts of power, while still being able to attain the high-quality, low latency output needed to achieve a successful mission outcome. In addition to these demands, public safety services such as the German Police Force also require airworthy solutions to allow its helicopters to gather video for enhanced awareness from the skies.
The Challenge
A German Police Helicopter Squadron decided to upgrade its video transmission system on its fleet of state-of-the-art Airbus EC135 helicopters. The helicopters’ existing onboard video cameras had been connected to a rugged encoder for generating network video transport streams. These streams were then transported and encrypted by a team2applications MLX100 cell/satcom router over attached cell antennas, and transmitted via a mobile network provider to a field-proven video management system. At times, the existing DVB-T based video downlinks suffered from availability in rural landscapes and also involved the time-demanding installation of a ground-based receiving vehicle.
This situation had become increasingly unsatisfactory as the captured videos need to be used for situational awareness, patrolling information, and intelligence-gathering missions. The new system would need to be an airworthy-grade, certifiable solution. Furthermore, all products needed to be available off-the-shelf, but have the ability to encode video in a format that could be distributed on the IP-based KMT Tracer video management system.
The Solution
team2 applications, a developer of electronic system solutions for aviation and security, KMT GmbH, a security service application specialist, and VITEC combined forces to design a new system to meet all the customer requirements. The bespoke solution features team2 MLX100/VRX211/NGR421 Routers, VITEC single channel HEVC/H.264 MGW Pico+ TOUGH Encoders or MGW Diamond TOUGH HEVC/H.264 quad-channel Encoders, and airworthy antennas designed by team2. All units are housed in ruggedised enclosures, and all products are airworthy-grade, designed specifically to support mission-critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) from both manned and unmanned airborne platforms operating in extreme conditions.
Through the Airbus EC135 Retrofit program, all equipment is contained in a ruggedised roll-on-/roll-off rack, which can be installed in the helicopters within 5 minutes, with seat-rail quick-locks attached to the airframe, and easily connected to the helicopter’s standard power outlet and the video-cameras to 3G-SDI video outlets.
Christoph Eder, General Manager, team2applications, commented: “Winning this contract demonstrates team2’s position as a leading technology provider of mobile cell-based IP video streaming technologies and our successful strategy in designing and delivering high-quality, reliable and IT-security enabled networking and tactical video solutions that meet the most stringent specifications of governmental surveillance markets. The project required a rugged, reliable, and versatile end-to-end solution, for which the VITEC MGW Pico+ TOUGH and Diamond TOUGH Encoders are the perfect fit. They provide every capability for processing and distributing ISR or situational awareness video generated by surveillance helicopters.”
The Result
The solution meets the customer’s requirement for two independent video transmission systems on the equipped helicopters, and provides a WLAN/Wi-Fi network access point that extends the German Police Force’s IP-network to the helicopter cabin.
The VITEC Encoders provide up to four 3G/HD/SD-SDI or composite inputs for video capture and live streaming. In addition to providing H.264 encoding, the MGW Pico+ and MGW Diamond TOUGH Encoders offer options for advanced HEVC compression for streaming HD/SD video (up to 1080p60), with bandwidth savings up to 50 percent compared to current H.264 standards.
The team2/KMT/VITEC solution is the industry’s first ruggedised roll-on/roll-off system to bring bandwidth-efficient HEVC compression technology into field video streaming applications.
Related VITEC Success Stories
Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites Dubai Al-Maktoum Airport select VITEC, to…
Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites Dubai Al-Maktoum Airport select VITEC, to provide in-room entertainment and on-site information for a premium guest experience.
Holiday Inn & Staybridge Suites
“The Exterity solution has proven reliable, flexible and easy to use, and the project’s success has been noticed by the wider group – which is now considering Exterity for further hotels within Dubai and other regions.”
Shanu Ammunni,
Director of Information Technology
at Ishraq Hospitality
Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC selects VITEC in-room entertainment system to provide a…
Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC selects VITEC in-room entertainment system to provide a premium guest experience
Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC selects Exterity in-room entertainment system
It might sound like a small thing, but we want to make each guest feel welcomed and special – and this small change is a great example of how easy it was to configure the Exterity system in exactly the way we wanted it.”
— Mr. Meslum AlKindi
Area Information Technology Director, IHG Oman
ClubMulwala chooses VITEC IPTV and Digital Signage system to modernise and…
ClubMulwala chooses VITEC IPTV and Digital Signage system to modernise and better engage with its members
Club Mulwala
"The new IPTV system offers great picture quality and has proven incredibly ease to use - it definitely enhances the entire guest experience."
— Alan Rowe
CEO Club Mulwala
VITEC digital signage solution shows the way in luxury hotel and convention…
VITEC digital signage solution shows the way in luxury hotel and convention centre
Grand Hyatt, Dubai
“Sometimes in a busy hotel, we need to make last minute changes to meet the needs of our guests – especially within the conferencing area. The Exterity software is incredibly easy to use, while text, graphics and logo changes can be created and updated in just a few seconds.”
Charles Pineda
Information Systems Manager,
Cyber Security SME,
EMEA for Grand Hyatt Dubai