Brochure

ge intelligent platforms » military and aerospace selection guide 201136
As real-time video becomes an increasingly important deci-
sion-making tool for military and security platforms such as
unmanned vehicles and border security, so too does the need
to be able to transmit and record high-definition video feeds at
increased frame rates. With an increase of up to 12 times the
amount of data (compared to standard definition video feeds)
now required to squeeze through the same narrow bandwidth
network, video compression has become a necessary tool to
accomplish this data-gathering mission.
GE Intelligent Platforms offers video compression boards that
provide a range of scalability, latency, and size, weight and power
(SWaP) specifications. The most widely used video compression
codec, H.264, provides the most effective blend of high-quality
video while achieving better than 95% compression rates. It was
around this codec that we based our latest XMC module, the
ICS-8580. This module takes video compression to a new level
with low-bandwidth, low-latency, and high-quality video from
high-definition sources. Despite its low power requirement, the
easy-to-use ICS-8580 is the most powerful embedded video
compression/decompression engine on the market, boasting
flexible video input and output support, data connectivity and
bandwidth management capability.
This small-yet-rugged module is deployable in the harsh envi-
ronments encountered by military and aerospace platforms
such as unmanned aerial vehicles. The module can capture
from a variety of video inputs, merge audio and other external
data, and then send compressed streams across a network for
processing or storage. The ICS-8580 can also be configured as
a decompression engine and display the uncompressed video
on local displays. The ICS-8580 can support two high-definition
video streams or four standard-definition streams. Latencies of
less than 75ms can be reliably achieved, with 50ms achievable
in some instances.
The ICS-8580 supports many system connectivity options,
including a stand-alone mode that removes the need for a
single board computer. As a result, the surveillance platform
is less complex and saves valuable SWaP while potentially
increasing the video capabilities needed to carry out its
mission. To quickly adapt to changing system requirements,
this flexible video compression board can implement different
compression codecs (such as JPEG2000) by simply updating the
software configuration.
Video Compression
real-time video for military and security
Satellite
Data Link
Line-of-Sight
Data Link
Satellite Uplink
Vehicle
[Destination B]
PREDATOR DRONE
SATELLITE RELAY
Ground Control
Station (GCS)
[Destination A]
Surveillance
Target
[Source A]