VideoMoverPlus-Aeronautical Streaming solution:
February 13, 2010
Description and overview:
VideoMoverPlus™-Aero128 video streaming & distribution software designed and developed for aeronautical applications needing a robust software solution for high quality one-way streaming, using Inmarsat BGAN aeronautical terminals developed by BGAN Aeronautical hardware solutions such as EMSSATCOM. Full support of Microsoft Windows 2008 Server Edition is included for multi-point distribution of streaming content. Both PUSH and PULL video streaming methods are in sync with 2008 Server Edition model making the VideoMoverPlus an ideal choice for aeronautical video streaming using Inmarsat BGAN network. 64k,128k,256k streaming and background IP are supported by selecting a template from a pull down on main menu.
Main menu - VideoMoverPlus - Aero
EMSSatcom terminals can be configured for airplanes or helicopters with different antenae for each platform. Multiple factors may affect the quality of video stream after transmission through the blades. One based on location of antenna, being under a fast moving blade or on the roof of an airplane where there are no obstructions for a clear line of sight to the BGAN satellites. Another if the BGAN background IP or BGAN Streaming class is invoked while transmitting video packets. Other factors are choice of codec, compression timing and hardware/software platform used to encode and decode.
TT500 secured with a 30lb dumbbell
If a suitable compression scheme is not used to stream video in either situation, then the output quality will be affected based on location of antenna or choice of BGAN STREAMING vs BACKGROUND IP. Traditional off shelf codecs such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264 and its garden varieties of video distribution schemes, can be adversely affected, therefore rendering a low quality or unusable video at the receive station.
In this short case study we will overview the procedure we have employed to test and simulate the quality of VideoMoverPlus stream thru background IP and Streaming class using a Thrane & Thrane Explorer-500 and a BetaII-R22, Robinson Helicopter. The location is in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Aviation Performance Center.
To stream video via BGAN terminal, we used a Toshiba Dual Core Notebook PC loaded with Windows XP SP3 and VideoMoverPlus software attached to a DV-CAM and connected to Inmarsat BGAN network using a TT-500 terminal. Our air time is provisioned using EvoSat network in South Africa and activated and maintained by SatellitePhoneStore of Sarasota, Florida.
To receive the streaming feed, we used a NETBOOK equipped with VideoMover Receive software.
Our R&D team are :
In this case study conducted by a joint effort of Software by iPixCel and owner and operator of a Robinson R22 Beta, we arranged for demonstration of video streaming quality while the BGAN line of sight was deliberately targeting its path through high velocity rotation of helicopter's blade - in an attempt to simulate location of a would be antenna if the chopper equipped with EMSSatcom aeronautical terminal. To conduct the test we simply used an Explorer-500 aimed at 30 degree toward the satellite in the sky while ensuring the line of sight aimed through rotating blades and not the shaft. A careful study of vessel's fuselage, its basic geometry, length of blade runner identified a suitable location for the Land Mobile terminal to be located so the line of sight aimed through the rotating blades.
Here is the formula we used to calculate the location of BGAN terminal in contrast to location of the helicopter:
Assuming a 30 degree angle from the Inmarsat Uplink (Thrane and Thrane Explorer 500 used) following equation used for calculating distance from helicopter:
Square Root of 3 (Approximately 1.732) times Height of Rotor Blade from ground level Plus the value of: One fourth times the total length of the Rotor Blade = The distance of BGAN terminal
Robertson Raven 22 Beta II http://www.robinsonheli.com/r22specs.htm
Height from ground level = 107 inches. (Approximately 9 feet.)
Center of Rotor Blade to the end = 151 inches.
Total Length of Rotor Blade end to end = 302 inches. (Approximately 25.2 feet).
So using the equation above yields:
Approximately 15.6 feet for the first part of the equation. (1.732 times 9) Plus 6.3 feet (1/4 of the length of the Rotor Blade which is 25.2 feet divided by 4) Results in 21.9 feet .
We were approximately 22 feet from the middle of the Rotor Blade with the Satellite uplink going through the middle of the Rotor Blade.
Results:
Our results were that on Background IP and 128K Streaming Class that VideoMoverPlus streamed a very clear video image on both.
VideoMoverPlus was set to use the UDP value at 10K versus our standard 6K value.
backgound IP
