LAS VEGAS, NV, December 18, 2007 - FOR-A Corporation of America has announced the sale of six IVS-100 video stabilizers to Western Digital Video Corporation, a Las Vegas-based systems integrator for the U.S. Government.
These stabilizers are being installed as part of a related project for the U.S.D.O.E. Western Digital Video Corporation estimates that a dozen or more FOR-A IVS-100 video stabilizers will be provided.
Western Digital Video Corporation is under contract with several departments within the Federal Government-such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Energy (USDOE), U.S. Border Patrol (INS), and the U.S. Army (DOD)-to design and install thermal imaging, infrared (IR) cameras, and other long range visible imaging systems that are used for perimeter detection. In many cases, these installations are extremely high-security projects and details are classified.
"In general, most of our installations involve placing imaging equipment on tall buildings, existing communications towers, and on MRVs [Mobile Reconnaissance Vehicles] for long-distance surveillance, as well as on specialized armored transport vehicles," said Kevin Conboy, president and owner of Western Digital Video Corporation (www.wdvcorp.com). MRVs are similar to ENG Broadcast trucks, but more rugged. They carry a collapsible vertical mast which in transit is housed in the truck bed. Mounted at the top of the mast is RF, imaging, and other detection equipment, as required.
One example of the type of camera systems deployed by Western Digital is the BAE (British Aero Engineering) Uncooled Thermal IR , and a High Resolution Visible cameras equipped with either a Fujinon C22X or C55X specialized, custom lens.
These imaging systems because of their long focal length optics, enable their users to detect people on the ground at considerable distances for security applications. "If you've ever seen images taken from a video camera that's being pelted by high winds or vibration, the picture jumps around to the extent that it becomes unwatchable," said Conboy. "This is especially true for video professionals, when extreme zoom lenses are used to shoot objects at great distances. However, when we place the FOR-A IVS-100 Video Stabilizer after each of the imaging systems, the instability is eliminated so that the video can be viewed easily without disruption."
FOR-A's IVS-100 video stabilizer electronically compensates for video shaking in real-time for either NTSC or PAL cameras. It also corrects unsteadiness on pre-recorded material by placing the stabilizer at the output of the recorder. The device corrects vertical and horizontal movement with sub-pixel level correction accuracy.
Before FOR-A introduced the IVS-100 video stabilizer, Conboy said that there was nothing on the market that completely met their requirements. Those requirements included a very compact, portable stabilizer that operated on 12 volts DC and could be placed on mobile vehicles and withstand the vibration.
Conboy said, "Because we typically shoot at extreme distances from towers, masts, moving vehicles, and other unstable platforms, these compact, portable IVS-100 video stabilizers are extremely valuable for our highly specialized applications."
FOR-A Corporation of America is a major manufacturer and distributor of video and audio systems to the broadcast, postproduction, and professional video markets. For more information about FOR-A's product line, call (714) 894-3311 or visit our web site at www.for-a.com.
