The current NIGHTSIGHT system being developed by Hughes is intended for use in both automobile and marine applications within the law enforcement infrastructure itself. Prototypes of the system are currently being tested by several police departments around North America. The prototype version is comprised of a 6 pound camera with a field of view of only 28 degrees by 18 degrees. Currently, the unit is rigidly mounted to the roof of the police vehicle. Consider the effectiveness of a police officer wearing a neck brace so he/she could only see in the direction in which his/her body was pointing. This is analogous to the current mounting system whereby the full potential of the NIGHTSIGHT system is far from being realized.
FIGURE 2. NIGHTSIGHT Field of View
Currently the NIGHTSIGHT camera has a field of view of 28 degrees by 18 degrees
The problem is to develop a device which allows the user to scan the entire scene using the current thermal vision system, while meeting all of the functional, physical, and environmental requirements. Our vision is a device which will allow the NIGHTSIGHT to look anywhere, any time, in any weather condition.
FIGURE 3. Rigidly Mounted NIGHTSIGHT
Prototype rigidly mounted to a typical police lightbar
NIGHTSIGHT Pan and Tilt
2.0 Project Need
4.0 Vision Statement