CoroCAM 8 UAV Intro
History In 1991 ESKOM (the South African power utility) approached the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and co-funded the development of the first camera specifically designed for corona imaging. This camera was dubbed the CoroCAM (Corona + Camera) and was manufactured on demand by this research organization. UViRCO Technologies (Pty) Ltd. was registered in 2008 as a spin-out of the CSIR. To date more than 800 Systems have been manufactured and sold worldwide. 2
CoroCAM models UV + Visible only CoroCAM 7 CoroCAM 8 CoroCAM 6D UV + Visible + Thermal
CoroCAM models integrated into products Fixed Mounted Imager (CoroCAM 8 inside) UAV Gimbal Modules For FLIR, Trakka Systems, HurleyIR & Peiport (CoroCAM 6D or 7 inside)
CoroCAM UAV Use The first flight was on 5/6/2013 in Kinshasa, DRC. An UAV built by Arye Ben Khalifa carried a CoroCAM 504 during a demonstration.
CoroCAM UAV Use Demonstration to Eskom Eskom is in the final stages before starting drone based inspections.
CoroCAM UAV Use CoroCAM 6D Demonstration to IEC, near Haifa, Israel.
CoroCAM UAV Use Altura ATX 8 w/ CoroCAM 6D
CoroCAM UAV Use CoroCAM 7 on a DJI along with other sensors in Spain.
CoroCAM UAV Use FREEFLY Alta 8 fitted with a CoroCAM 8 UAV
CoroCAM 8 Overview
UAV s are the future UAV s can collect data which can not be easily / cost effectively attained through other means. They do so with minimal human intervention. To optimise the effort a multitude of sensors have to be brought to bear on the item under inspection. These sensor are used to answer questions related to: Asset Location Asset Condition
Overhead Line Inspections Asset Location Structure Footing Wire Sag Skewness Asset Condition Hotspots External Discharges Contamination Component failure / damage Servitude Vegetation Structures LIDAR & Visual Thermal Solar Blind Ultraviolet Visual
Flight Profiles Point inspection Handheld camera user who wants to get a closer view due to limitations of the camera. Short flight Smaller UAV Line Of Sight (LOS) varies by environment. Line inspection (Tower and Line Inspection) Scan entire line to avoid walking it. UAV needs to bring multiple sensors to bear. Long flight Large UAV Beyond LOS Legal implications. Would alternately use a bucket truck. Limited availability, time delays = cost. Would alternately use a line scan helicopter at much higher rates.
Typical Usage Model - Utility UAV Pilot Payload Operator & Video Analyst
Typical Usage Model - Contractor Off site Video Analyst Payload Operator UAV Pilot
CoroCAM 8 UAV Module Shown mounted onto a DJI Matrice 600 Pro, in a Gremsy T3 gimbal
Output Combined UV-Visible-Thermal imaging in one module.
Fitment The module can be fitted to any UAV which can loft it and a suitably sized gimbal. A Gremsy T3 gimbal fitted to a FREEFLY Alta 8 has been tested.
Fitment A number of other UAV s can carry the CoroCAM 8 and Gremsy pairing. Tunnel Radio s SKIA Built for Linesmen DJI M600 Pro
Fitment The module also has a standard camera tripod mounting point. This allows it to be mounted onto a number of floor standing devices. i.e. Tripods, dollies, etc. An LCD screen can be mounted onto the top bracket.
Payload weight At 1.75Kg for the CoroCAM 8 UAV module & 1.05Kg for the gimbal, the combined system (2.8Kg) is light enough to be lofted by most Enterprise grade UAV s. DJI Matrice 600 can loft the CoroCAM 8 UAV plus Gremsy T3 gimbal for ~24 minutes (with 6x fresh TB48S batteries), sufficient for point inspections.
Camera Remote Control Remote control of the camera is achieved by 2 methods: via PWM or SBUS signals from a typical radio controller (not supplied) or via an Ethernet connection, cabled, optical or wireless (not supplied) The Gremsy T3 can be controlled via Futaba S-Bus.
Camera Remote Control The radio controller (not supplied) uses 6 PWM channels to Option Key Emulated emulate 6 of the keys on the 0 No Key camera. 1 Down / Up 2 Left / Right The 6 green shaded keys are required as the minimum to control the camera via the menu system. 3 Minus / Plus 4 Cancel / None / Select (3 way switch required) 5 Short cut Key 1 Image Series Number / Alt. Profile 6 Short cut Key 2 Long Integration / Alt. Noise Reduction 7 Short cut Key 3 UV Palette / Alt. UV Transparency 8 Short cut Key 6 IR Span / Alt. IR Palette 9 Short cut Key 7 Laser Pointer / Alt. Flashlight On/Off Toggle 10 Short cut Key 8 Environmental / Alt Solar Blind Mode 11 Short cut Key 9 UV Non-Uniformity Correction 12 Short cut Key 0 IR Level / Alt. Emissivity 13 Record Still 14 ALT key 15 Record Video
Camera Remote Control If the radio controller (not supplied) has SBUS, then it can Option Key Emulated control 16 channels, allowing 0 No Key for emulation of all keys on 1 Down / Up 2 Left / Right the camera. 3 Minus / Plus 4 Cancel / None / Select (3 way switch required) The 6 green shaded keys are required as the minimum to control the camera via the menu system. 5 Short cut Key 1 Image Series Number / Alt. Profile 6 Short cut Key 2 Long Integration / Alt. Noise Reduction 7 Short cut Key 3 UV Palette / Alt. UV Transparency 8 Short cut Key 6 IR Span / Alt. IR Palette 9 Short cut Key 7 Laser Pointer / Alt. Flashlight On/Off Toggle 10 Short cut Key 8 Environmental / Alt Solar Blind Mode 11 Short cut Key 9 UV Non-Uniformity Correction 12 Short cut Key 0 IR Level / Alt. Emissivity 13 Record Still 14 ALT key 15 Record Video
Remote Control Software If an Ethernet uplink (not supplied) is available then it can be used to remote control the camera from PC using the CoroBASE remote control software. The advantage is that recordings made on the camera is downloaded immediately, added to the relevant inspection database point and quickly available for further analysis. Video can be downlinked and recorded live in CoroBASE if the Ethernet connection is fast and stable enough. In HV Labs optical Ethernet can be used to avoid interference.
Manual Control The CoroCAM 8 UAV module can also be used from a tri-pod mount, using it s onboard key pads. Video will have to connected to an external display.
Input & Output ports A Input & output ports on the left B C E D A GPS External Antenna B PWM/SBUS Input C HDMI Composite Video output Audio input USB (mini) D Serial RS232/485 SD Card E Ethernet Power in, 12VDC /2A
Recording of results The CoroCAM 8 UAV HDMI output is downlinked via the UAV downlink system to a viewing station (not supplied). The HDMI feed can be recorded at the ground station on a HDMI recorder (not supplied). Display Receiver Recorder Power Bank
Recording of results The CoroCAM 8 UAV can be sent a command to record a video clip or a radiometric still. These will be saved to the SD card inside the camera. Live view and recording on PC is not possible while the camera records to SD card.
Power Supply The CoroCAM 8 UAV can be powered by either it s onboard battery (NP-F770 or NP-F970 equivalents) or external input from the drone. Battery Compartment
Battery Endurance and Swap The NP-F770 can power the CoroCAM 8 UAV for up to 3hrs. NP-F970 can work for up to 4hrs. The NP-F770 can be exchanged while the camera is installed in the gimbal. Battery Compartment
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