Marines Field New ‘Smart’ Video System for Urban Combat Exercises December 2010
By Edward Lundquist
The Marine Corps is now deploying “intelligent” video systems that will be used at urban combat training facilities. The new technology, called tactical video capture system, fuses video images from multiple cameras into a single three-dimensional view.
The TVCS allows trainees to look around corners or behind buildings, fly from rooftop to street level, and even review pre-recorded video from different perspectives. Operating it is like playing a video game, except the scene is of real events in real time. The operator grabs the joystick and flies down hallways and around buildings, immersing himself in the scene.
The system is derived from technology that the Office of Naval Research developed under a “Video Flashlight” program. It stitches multiple video and sensor data feeds into a single-screen and record all aspects of a training evolution action and replay scenarios as a virtual display to evaluate the effectiveness of training and tactics. Users say that TVCS can process streams of disparate video and audio into an easy-to-understand, actionable format to be immediately available for review. Users can evaluate threats and surveillance information directly or from a mobile device, and can move around to view what is going on throughout a training facility.
The Marine Corps program manager for training systems (PMTRASYS) is rolling out TVCS at training areas.
“ONR’s close cooperation with PMTRASYS, Marine Corps Training and Education Command, and industry developers has resulted in advanced technologies that empowers and enhances the training of Marines and Sailors,” said Deputy Chief of Naval Research for Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and Combating Terrorism Science & Technology (EMWCT) George Solhan.
Successfully commercialized by L-3 GS&ES, the originating technologies were developed by Sarnoff Corporation under ONR sponsorship in the early 2000s. Solhan started the program as “Video Flashlight” in 2002. “It’s gratifying to see that this small research program we started is making such a huge impact on future USMC live training,” Solhan said.
The first TVCS became operational in May 2010 at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
In the area of video-based training technology, ONR also funded the development of the automated performance evaluation and lessons learned (APELL) program. Sarnoff Corp. used video technology to automatically flag infantry exercises to assist instructors. Instructors can specify what they want their trainees to do, and the system will automatically alert when those predefined conditions are met or violated. If the instructor wants each squad member to remain a certain distance apart from each other, APELL will let him know if they successfully carried out his orders.
The APELL system is a mixed reality, closed-loop training system, where the system controls the actions of wall-projected computer-generated role players based on the real-time actions and performance evaluations of the Marines in the exercises. PMTRASYS is currently fielding APELL systems at two urban combat training locations.
“Our top priority is to focus on those areas that deliver the biggest payoff for our future and ensure we make every single dollar count for maximum benefit for the war fighters.” said Rear Adm. Nevin Carr, Chief of Naval Research.
Carr says ‘transition’ is one of ONR’s main metrics. “It’s not enough just to do interesting science. What matters is transitioning the products of that science to the war fighter.”
SOURCEhttp://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2010/December/Pages/MarinesFieldNew%E2%80%98Smart%E2%80%99VideoSystemforUrbanCombatExercises.aspx
Tactical Video Capture
Systems for USMC
On March 20, 2008, L-3 Communications and HBE won a large United States
Marine Corps (USMC) project. The three-year contract is valued at more
than $326 million and is the culmination of a cooperative relationship
between HBE and L-3 under the leadership of HBE CEO Jim Henry and
L-3 SVP Mark Redlinger.
The USMC needs advanced video recording for After Action Review
(AAR) at training sites for military operations in urban terrain. HBE helped
to secure this opportunity and will implement a large part of the Tactical
Video Capture Systems (TVCS) at 15 USMC bases around the world. This
project combines L-3’s technological strengths and breadth with HBE’s
physical security experience and presence in key markets. Henry Bros. will
assume a significant portion of the workload on this program in the areas
of camera selection, procurement installation and test as well as other
integration tasks.
A team of suppliers will implement on a large scale Praetorian, L-3’s
next-generation, open-architecture 3D intelligent observation system. It will
be the USMC’s first “intelligent” TVCS. Users can view multiple sites under
surveillance in both real-time and on recorded 3D video to analyze information
more quickly, allowing them to act preemptively to stop or contain
emerging threats. The benefits include:
• Improved situational awareness and information management
• Reduced costs, labor, and risk of losses
Praetorian manages unlimited streams of disparate video and audio
information by putting it in a real-time, easy-to-understand, actionable
format for quick-turn, after-action review. This capability could be applied
to sectors beyond defense, including government, commerce, and finance.
It can be adapted for infrastructure and port security, airports, and
public events.
Prime contractor L-3 Communication’s Global Security & Engineering
Solutions (GS&ES) will head up the TVCS team. GS&ES is a division of L-3
Services, Inc. (LSI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of L-3 Communications
Corporation. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, L-3 GS&ES has
nearly 3,000 employees throughout the United States and worldwide,
providing a broad range of technical, analytical, operational and security
services and products to government and commercial customers. Core
capabilities include advanced security solutions and services, engineering
and technical solutions and services, program management, and operational
support services.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs over
64,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in aircraft modernization
and maintenance, C3ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems and government services.
L-3 is also a leading provider of high technology products, subsystems, and
systems. The company reported 2007 sales of $14 billion.
Our other partners on this project include Cisco, L-3 Coleman Aerospace,
Tapestry Solutions, Sarnoff Corporation, Harris Corporation and
Telos Corporation.
SOURCE:
http://www.hbe-inc.com/downloadpg/TVCSCaseStudy-screen%5B1%5D-screen.pdf
Tactical video capture system order for Marines
L-3 Communications (published 21/03/2008)
Three dimensional intelligent video observation system to be supplied over three year contract period to the US Marine Corps.
L-3 Communications has been awarded a contract by the US Marines to supply Tactical Video Capture Systems (TVCS) at military training sites in the United States and overseas. As prime contractor, L-3 will lead a team of suppliers in the implementation of Praetorian, L-3’s next-generation, open-architecture 3D intelligent video observation system. The three-year contract is valued at more than $326 million.
Praetorian is the US Marine Corp’s first “intelligent” TVCS, enabling users to view multiple sites under surveillance in both real-time and on recorded 3D video to analyse information more quickly and act pre-emptively to stop or contain emerging threats. In addition to improving users’ situational awareness and information management, Praetorian, also reduces costs, labour and the risk of loss.
“Praetorian solves the technical challenge of managing unlimited streams of disparate video and audio information by putting it into a real-time, easy-to-understand and actionable format for quick-turn, after-action review,” said Jerry Bates, president of L-3 Global Security & Engineering Solutions, which developed the Praetorian system. “We are very proud to be leading the team delivering this critical, state-of-the-art technology and training support program for the US Marines.”
Mr Bates added that Praetorian’s capabilities can be applied across a variety of industry sectors including defence, government and commerce and finance. The system is also adaptable for infrastructure and port security, as well as airports and public events.
In addition to L-3’s Global Security & Engineering Solutions business, the TVCS team includes Cisco, L-3 Coleman Aerospace, Henry Brothers Electronics, Tapestry Solutions, Sarnoff Corporation, Harris Corporation and Telos Corporation.
SOURCE
http://www.prosecurityzone.com/Customisation/News/Surveillance/Video_Analytics_and_ANPR/Tactical_video_capture_system_order_for_Marines.asp
