Will drones help fight the coronavirus?

In cooperation with Draganfly, an American drone-manufacturing company, the Westport Police Department in Connecticut (a state close to New York that has seen the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the US thus far) has been testing what it calls "pandemic drones", designed to monitor public safety. Draganfly has created a technology that relies on computer vision systems and thermal cameras to screen people for respiratory and other symptoms that may indicate an active COVID-19 infection. The drones are equipped with specialized sensors and computer vision systems able to identify body temperature, heart and respiratory rate, and even detect sneezing and coughing individuals in a crowd. The system is supposed to have a range of c. 58 m, which means the drones will not have to fly up too close and analyze people individually.

The Westport Police Department reassured that the equipment does not employ face recognition technology and will not be used to monitor human behavior in private homes. The drones are designed to detect only specific parameters and behaviors in public space, so as to enable officials to identify hotspots and ensure the safety of those who provide a first aid response. The technology not only boosts the safety of paramedics, doctors, and uniformed services involved in handling the COVID-19 crisis, but also protects society at large. An important advantage of the drones is that they enable frequent shifts between closely monitored open-space urban locations.

A 2-wire video intercom system from Hikvision.

Video/intercom system often have to be upgraded to new versions that offer expanded functions. Such modernization may involve the need to change existing cables and replace them with e.g. twisted pair cables in IP systems. This is where the 2-Wire Hikvision video intercom comes in. The device has the same functionalities as a second-generation Hikvision IP video intercom. The structure of the system relies on a G74823 DS-KAD706 distributor, to which monitors (e.g. G74018 DS-KH6320-WTE2) and the main door station module (G73644 DS-KD8003-IME2) are connected via a 2-wire bus. The latter allows to power supported devices and establish communication. Once the distributor is connected to the LAN network, each device (monitor, door station) is assigned an individual IP address in the network and can be configured via the iVMS-4200(v3) app. Besides its basic functions, i.e. video calls, door opening, and entrance gate control, the system also works via the Hik-Connect smartphone app, which allows to forward calls to the smartphone when the resident is not at home or to open the gate or door remotely.

An example of a 2-Wire Hikvision system

Quick CCTV camera access sharing.

Hik-Connect users can use a QR code to authorize other people (max. 64) to access their Hikvision monitoring devices. This means you can share a camera or DVR/NVR added to our Hik-Connect account/guest account really quickly, which is useful e.g. when you want our family members to enjoy the same access rights. An important advantage is also that the authorization can be canceled at any time.

The steps of the sharing procedure:

HDMI over optical fiber with a USB converter.

Because of the distance and the need for e.g. NVR control, many large CCTV systems require a HDMI to fiber converter with a USB extender. DIPOL offers an opportunity to implement such a scenario using a set of devices: a HDMI to IP converter and a media converter.

Using media converters with HDMI converters

The H3613 HDMI to IP converter with USB interface sends the signals (HDMI and USB) via IP network to the L10025 media converter that changes the transmission medium to optical fiber. In a remote location, the transmission medium is changed to electrical signals received and decoded by the H3613 receiver/converter.

Camera signals in SMATV systems.

If you want to feed an AHD or IP camera signal into the SMATV system, you can fall back on the cheapest currently available HDMI to DVB-T encoder/modulator (Full HD 1080P/60Hz), i.e. R86111. The device is used in CCTV systems integrated with SMATV networks and can be employed to transmit DVR/NVR signals to multiple TV receivers over coaxial cables. The R86111 modulator encodes and modulates the Full HD (1920x1080-60p) signal provided to its HDMI input to RF signal in accordance with the DVB-T standard (COFDM), and thus offers an attractive alternative to installations based on HDMI splitters and cables.

Watch the latest video about the installation of a SIGNAL modulator

How to properly pull out optical fibers from the tube?

When installing fiber optic cabling, it is important to use appropriate tools. There is no room for half measures; using tools other than those explicitly recommended for the purpose may increase the risk of damage to optical fibers, which may make it much more difficult to build an optical path.

Of the many actions involved in the installation of fiber-optic cables, some of the most difficult ones include cutting out windows in tubes. The windows are shaved in order to pull out the desired fibers from the tube without disturbing the rest, while maintaining the continuity of the tube. Operations of this type are often performed in fiber-optic splice closures located on poles carrying multi-fiber trunk cables, where, from a given pole, one or two fibers have to be dropped (as a subscriber link or a branch of the network).

How to use the MSAT-5 L5925 tool
(source: YouTube)

Ripley's MSAT-5 L5925 Mid-Span Access Tool allows easy access to optical fibers in loose buffer tubes with diameters from 1.9 mm to 3.0 mm, without any risk of damage. It can be safely used for cutting windows in DRAKA universal cables with up to 16 fibers (the tube of the cable with 24 fibers has a larger diameter).

Remote PoE switch power supply. The ULTIPOWER 352SFP N299707 PoE switch is equipped with a PD (Powered Device) function, which allows it to be powered from another PoE switch. The feature is extremely useful especially when the switch (or cameras, if they are mounted in the same spot, e.g. on a pole) is located in places linked only by a twisted pair cable....>>>more

A PoE switch with the PD function

Cameras streaming directly to YouTube