公开(公告)号：WO2015170078A2

公开(公告)日：2015-11-12

申请号：PCT/GB2015051271

申请日：2015-05-01

Applicant: SPILLCONSULT LTD

Inventor： GAIR STUART DAVID

IPC: B64B1/50

CPC classification number: B64B1/50 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/022 ,  B64C2201/027 ,  B64C2201/127 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  G03B15/006 ,  G03B37/04

Abstract: An aerial observation system is described and comprises a tethered aerial platform and a plurality of ground-based monitoring devices. The aerial platform carries a payload comprising a plurality of fixed focal length cameras mounted at selected positions about the aerial platform and communication means connected to the plurality of cameras for transmitting, independently to each of the plurality of ground-based monitoring devices, a data signal comprising image data captured by one or more of the plurality of cameras. Each ground-based monitoring device is independently operable to select and display an image area of interest from the image data contained in the data signal. By utilising fixed focal length cameras instead of the normal (but much heavier, more delicate and more power-hungry) pan, tilt and zoom cameras conventionally used in such application, sensor payload on the balloon can be reduced, robustness can be increased, and battery life improved. Moreover, multiple users are able to independently access different fields of view simply by selecting different image areas out of the image data transmitted (potentially to all base stations) from the aerial platform.

Abstract translation: 描述了一种空中观测系统，并包括一个系留式空中平台和多个基于地面的监视装置。 空中平台携带有效载荷，其包括安装在围绕天线平台的选定位置处的多个固定焦距照相机和连接到多个相机的通信装置，用于独立地向多个地面监视装置中的每一个发送数据信号 包括由所述多个照相机中的一个或多个捕获的图像数据。 每个基于地面的监视设备可独立地操作以从包含在数据信号中的图像数据中选择和显示感兴趣的图像区域。 通过利用固定焦距相机，而不是通常在这种应用中常规使用的正常（但更重，更精细和更耗电）的平底锅，倾斜和变焦相机，可以降低球囊上的传感器有效载荷，提高鲁棒性， 电池寿命提高。 此外，多个用户能够通过从空中平台中选择从所发射的图像数据（潜在地到所有基站）的不同图像区域来独立地访问不同的视场。

公开(公告)号：GB2527736A

公开(公告)日：2016-01-06

申请号：GB201407903

申请日：2014-05-05

Applicant: SPILLCONSULT LTD

Inventor： GAIR STUART DAVID

IPC: H04N7/18 ,  B64B1/42 ,  B64B1/50 ,  B64C39/02 ,  H04N5/232 ,  H04N5/262

Abstract: An aerial observation system comprising a tethered aerial platform 1 and a plurality of ground-based monitoring devices. The aerial platform carries a payload comprising a plurality of fixed focal length cameras 4 and a communication means 5, 6 for transmitting image data captured by the cameras independently to each of the ground-based monitoring devices. Each ground-based device is independently operable to select and display an area of interest from the image data. Preferably each ground-based device performs a digital pan-tilt-zoom operation on the camera image, allowing the airborne cameras to be lighter and cheaper than ones with a physically controllable field of view. Moreover, multiple users are able to independently access different fields of view simultaneously. Preferably, the cameras 4 provide a combined 360 degree view. A telemetry unit may transmit position and heading data relating to the cameras. The aerial platform may be a tethered balloon or a kite 3 stabilised balloon 2 such as a kytoon. In further independent claims, the aerial platform is a kytoon with a payload having centre of gravity underneath or behind the aerostatic lift of the kytoon. The kite part may have a keel onto which the payload is connected. The kytoon may have pockets to house mounting plates for the cameras.