VideoGrid Case Study
Compass Systems recently developed the VideoGrid system in support of the Office of Naval Research science and technology concepts for the Operational Adaptation program.
The VideoGrid system allows a watch floor commander to have a real-time, high resolution view of all airborne and ground-based sensor operator displays, computer screens, and/or camera feeds with a standard digital output at up to full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels). The system can directly interface to the video feeds and digitize in real-time, so no changes are required to systems being integrated.
In order to develop the system, Compass Systems evaluated several video encoders to choose the one that best met customer requirements. Custom VideoGrid software was developed to:
- Enumerate, command, and control the video encoders
- De-multiplex and decode the video streams
- Display, scale, manipulate, and capture the video streams
- Provide an intuitive GUI to allow selection of video streams
The system has been successfully used in two Operational Adaptation exercises, where it has been deployed on workstations connected to large (50+ inch) screens as the primary tool for watch commanders to get a clear, high-level view of current operations.