What is ptz. Control of PTZ video cameras Speed Dome. Controllers and keyboards

I.V. Oleinik
DSSL CEO

This overview focuses on how to control SpeedDome integrated PTZ cameras.

The consumption of PTZ cameras has grown significantly in the market over the past 10 years. A significant reduction in the price of these devices is affecting, as well as an increase in their technical capabilities: speed, optical zoom, functionality. Now the normal rotation speed during the setting of the "preset" reaches (often exceeds) 400 degrees / s, the optical zoom has long stepped over 30x, and some cameras even got the ability to track objects in their field of view on their own. Modern prices for domes range from $500 to $600 for Chinese brands to several thousand euros for well-known Japanese, American or European brands. Unlike individual pan and tilt mechanisms, where control is carried out by its own pair for each degree of freedom (mainly 24 or 220 V alternating voltage), a telemetry receiver is integrated into the SpeedDome, which allows you to control the camera with just two wires (in the case of RS-485; some models require 4 wires for duplex control) or video cable. Well, SpeedDome IP video cameras do not require additional control wires at all, although they usually have the ability to work "the old fashioned way".

Controllers and keyboards

The easiest and "ancient" way to control a Speed Dome camera is with a keyboard, as well as a separate stand-alone device with its own power source. The minimum cost keyboard will control pan and zoom using only buttons and RS-485 protocol. Buttons are quite enough when you only need to set up cameras and then manage, for example, presets. But if the operator needs to constantly control the cameras, the remote control will greatly slow down his work. For such cases, a remote control with a joystick will be much more convenient - it allows you to control the camera in two coordinates at once, the focal length of the lens, as well as the rotation speed with one hand movement. The higher the cost of the keyboard, the more additional features (for example, control of video recorders, displaying signals from video cameras and recorders on the built-in TFT monitor) it has. Working with DVRs is limited only by the fact that they must be released by the same company as the keyboard; there are no such problems with controlling video cameras - usually remotes support several protocols, which means that you can control cameras from different manufacturers. With the advent of IP-cameras, the question of remote controllers for them arose with an edge. Of course, almost all PTZ IP cameras have the ability to control via RS-485, but it makes no sense to drag additional wires when there is already a high-bandwidth digital network. The only drawback of an Ethernet network based on copper UTP, which is the basis for 99% of IP video systems, compared to an analog network is the short segment length from the device to the switch (about a hundred meters if you do not use optics).

PTZ camera features

Here we can talk about two things. First, some camcorders have built-in advanced controls. An appropriately configured video camera constantly monitors with a maximum viewing angle. When the built-in motion detector detects motion, the camera zooms in on the area and "leads" the moving object as far as possible. At the moment of such tracking, the camera "does not see" the surroundings and cannot switch to another object without returning to its original position with a minimum zoom. Of course, not all cameras even have a built-in motion detector, let alone automatic tracking.

The second applies only to IP cameras. It has already been said above that the Speed Dome IP camera can be controlled both using a conventional remote control and an IP remote control. However, IP PTZ cameras are, in a sense, self-sufficient devices and "have on board" a Web server. By logging in from any computer through a Web browser, you can get the image from the camera, configure its settings and control the pan and lens. It offers 2 methods - a simple one that imitates the buttons of the control panel and allows you to simultaneously control two coordinates, and an advanced one that differs for each manufacturer in details. Here you control the rotation and scaling with your computer mouse. By drawing a rectangle in any part of the camera window, you will force it to zoom in on this area or, by moving the cursor to the edge of the image, you will get an arrow hint; which you can move the camera in the desired direction (at the left edge - to the left, at the right - to the right, and so on).

Control by DVR non-PC

PTZ camera control has been an integral basic function of DVRs for a very long time. Only very cheap and very limited DVRs can afford not to have one. Cameras with non-PC DVRs are controlled in 99% of cases using the RS-485 interface. Some newer hybrid recorders that can work with both analog and IP cameras may support control over IP. According to the control method, all DVRs can be divided into 3 types: those that control using the keyboard of the DVR (from the front panel), control only the mouse (for DVRs where there is no keyboard), and DVRs that support both options. The first option is acceptable only for those who very rarely use manual control of PTZ cameras (cameras are configured to bypass "presets" or "tours" in automatic mode). In most cases, using the front panel of a video recorder to control a PTZ camera is a pain in the ass, as there are only limited buttons to work with: no 3D joysticks. Mouse control can also vary greatly. The simple version is an imitation of the same limited set of buttons from the front panel, it is not much more convenient. Other NVRs may use roughly the same mechanism as described in the previous section, which is found mostly in IP cameras. Of course, you will have to configure everything using the same buttons or on-screen menu, but this is the only option for all DVRs. Total: the mouse is good, the keyboard is not very good. The good news is that there are more and more mouse-controlled registrars, but the latter also have an internal software can vary greatly.

The control methods listed above have one common drawback. Any Speed Dome camera has 2 control speeds. The speed of control in manual mode usually does not exceed even half the speed of turning the camera at the time of using the presets. At the same time, it is obvious that the higher the speed of such manual control, the less accurate, the accuracy of positioning the camera on the area or object of interest. It can be noted here that the camera is not used to 100% of its capabilities, and the efficiency of its use could be higher. New computer interfaces and developments are called upon to cope with this task.

Software (PC-based DVR)

Computer DVRs always outperform non-PCs. Firstly, new technologies, especially resource-intensive and complex ones, are easier to develop and debug on computers, and secondly, competition with DVRs based on embedded processors forces the same developers to constantly add new features and capabilities, make their software more flexible and powerful. . What new software developers offer us for video recording and control of PTZ cameras? If we discard the variations associated with the interactivity of control directly on the image, or the imitation of a 2D joystick, then 3 categories of new products (interfaces) can be distinguished separately. The first one is adding the possibility automatic control those cameras that do not have it initially, that is, controlling the camera using a motion detector in the software. Such detectors can be more powerful and advanced than those built into cameras. The second and third ones are connected with the use of at least one more video camera (overview), the field of view of which coincides completely or partially with the turning one at the minimum focal length.

Manual control

In this mode, the combination of the survey and PTZ cameras allows the operator to control the PTZ camera with one mouse click or, by selecting a rectangular area of the image from the survey camera, to get it optically enlarged using the PTZ camera. At the same time, 2 drawbacks of the interfaces described above disappear at once, control is performed at the maximum speed1 available for the video camera (usually declared as the positioning speed according to presets), and the operator does not lose sight of the protected area - he sees the whole situation as a whole and its details with maximum optical zoom, so it can move the camera from one position to another as quickly as it could with traditional interfaces.

The fact that the Speed Dome camera does not need to return to the viewing position in order to select a new object also plays its role in the speed of control, and this, as already noted, is the slowest part of positioning. When the camera is positioned without major zoom changes (almost not using the zoom), the speed increases significantly.

Automatic control

This implies the same bundle of overview and PTZ cameras. The motion detector analyzes the image from the overview camera and sends commands to the PTZ camera - now the control is fully automatic. Systems of this kind appeared many years ago, however, then they worked according to presets - each square of the image of the overview camera was assigned its own position, and as we remember, Speed Dome can have up to 256 presets. However, now developers use the capabilities of not only modern detectors, but also video cameras. The detectors are smart enough to transmit not just the coordinates of the object, but also the vector of its movement, since while the camera is turning towards the object, it may already have shifted. And the cameras have the ability not only to work according to presets, but also to execute direct commands to install at certain coordinates; they also have sufficient speed. It should only be noted that not all Speed Dome cameras, even from the average price range, will support these functions. You should not expect that the Chinese noname will be as fast and will have a fully implemented protocol, especially a borrowed one. If several objects appear in the field of view of the overview camera, the PTZ camera will switch between them, following each one for the set time. Today, some developers are supplying systems that allow both simultaneous control of multiple Speed Dome cameras, and virtually unlimited combinations of panoramic and PTZ cameras, where you can have a live 360° view of what is happening around, while simultaneously providing a high resolution and detail of moving objects. It would seem that with the increase in resolution, when there are already digital video cameras of 5.8 Mpx and more, the need for such a solution is not so high. But the optical zoom is still difficult to replace, and a combination of panoramic and PTZ cameras using, for example, a 35x zoom gives the equivalent of a system resolution of more than 300 megapixels - digital cameras will not be able to achieve the same result soon. Again, the use of megapixel panoramic and PTZ cameras will always push this barrier forward. Of course, this system also has disadvantages. First, as mentioned, not all PTZ cameras are compatible, and not all of them are fast enough to track objects moving at high angular velocity. Secondly, the system increases in price (however, the fee is worth it - like any increase in functionality that increases the security of the facility or your enterprise). Thirdly, the system requires calibration - setting the coordinates of the overview and PTZ cameras (although there are positive shifts here - for some cameras you need to set only 9 coordinate anchor points, and the rest will be calculated by the system itself).

It can be noted in which direction we should expect the development of manual and automatic control technology:

transition to megapixel panoramic and PTZ cameras and the desire for higher resolution;
construction of panoramic images, composed of images received from a plurality of survey cameras, which also include images of rotary ones. Thus, a single interactive scene of an object or its section is created. However, it will be inferior without the ability to reproduce the archive in the same way (although this can be a serious load on the server);
improving the performance of motion detectors. New tracing technologies, scene and object recognition, improved tracing quality at night.

Of course, one should not rely entirely on the capabilities of the detectors. It is not worth saving on video cameras, hoping that the detector will cope with both noise and low-resolution images. The general rule for any security system is that a system will only be as bad as its smallest component. A cheap lens attached to an expensive camera, a cable with a low-quality connector, or any other component can wipe out all your costs.

Glossary

Speed Dome is a speed dome PTZ camera. High-speed in comparison with usual rotary mechanisms. Dome, since more than 90% of such cameras are designed as a cylinder with a domed optically transparent casing that protects the optics and mechanism from dust and moisture. Speed Dome cameras are also called integrated, meaning that all the necessary components are assembled in one body: the video camera itself, optics, a two-coordinate mechanism and a telemetry receiver.

Preset - the ability of the Speed Dome to be set to a pre-programmed position with the maximum available speed. Various modifications can store from 32 to 256 presets.

Tours (Tour, or Touring) - the ability of a PTZ video camera to execute a series of commands, such as a sequence of presets. The advanced option involves the camera remembering your actions and then cyclic execution. Protocol - a set of commands for controlling PTZ cameras using a telemetry receiver. Usually, large manufacturers use their own protocol, but they also necessarily integrate additional Pelco types, which have become the de facto standard due to the openness of the manufacturer's policy. Small manufacturers use only such open protocols and implement (depending on their laziness or camera capabilities) only a part of the commands. PTZ is an abbreviation for Pan, Tilt and Zoom, respectively horizontal and vertical rotation and lens control. A PTZ camera is a correspondingly integrated camera with a swivel mechanism and a zoom lens.

When organizing surveillance inside a sufficiently large object, control over the adjacent territory, the task is always to track penetration or monitor what is happening over a large area.

The solution may be to install multiple cameras. However, such a step would increase the cost of the system and the need to monitor and record multiple video streams. A PTZ camera looks much more attractive for a large area monitoring solution.

How PTZ Cameras Work

PTZ is a technically complex device that implements several mechanics at once, which are necessary for tracking objects over a large area.

A short list of constructive nodes can be described as follows:

a recorder consisting of a photosensitive element and a primary signal processing system;
an optics system equipped with servo drives for focusing;
a rotary unit that rotates the recorder in a horizontal plane;
a servo drive that tilts the recorder vertically;
secondary signal processing system;
the structure responsible for the formation of the final video stream, realizing the signal response, processing the control pulses.

talking in simple words, the PTZ camera can aim at the specified point by a control signal, focus (including automatic) to form a clear image, and, at the request of the operator or the head unit, zoom (zoom, including digital).

Modern models offer much more. For example, the built-in control of PTZ surveillance cameras can include response and fixing the view on a moving object, following the perimeter violator, determining the distance for subsequent adjustment of the image clarity.

Design features and technical characteristics of cameras

The choice of model should be made from the standpoint of the future conditions of its operation. There are several types of cameras on the market today.

Although the main list of structural significant nodes is the same for them, the devices differ in a number of parameters.

robotic cameras. This class of devices is not common, because it is considered obsolete. This is a kind of hybrid of the average outdoor camera installed on a positioning system. Devices cannot offer (in most cases) either automated focusing or intelligent control with event response.
The PTZ camera is designed for indoor use. This segment of models is characterized by maximum openness of the design and low protection against moisture and dust. Such devices are recommended to operate at temperatures from 0 to 55 degrees Celsius.
Dome for installation indoors - such a Ptz camera is characterized by low protection of the structure from the penetration of moisture and pollution, it can operate at a temperature of 0-55 degrees. Its difference from the rotary in high aesthetics and a slightly reduced need for maintenance.
dome products with the general name Speed Dome are distinguished by high protection against moisture and dust, and thanks to the installed dome, they are also vandal resistant. Such a camera can operate at temperatures from -50 to 60 degrees Celsius.

The top of technological excellence is outdoor PTZ dome cameras. They are distinguished by high-speed drive, the presence of powerful, smart technology automated control and response.

In this segment of devices, you can find a model that can solve almost any problem. For example, allowing the connection of external sensors (, water, gas) for event response and focusing on the problem area for monitoring. The outdoor dome camera can operate at temperatures from -40 to 60 degrees, protected from water, dust, vandals.

To others design features individual products may include equipment for additional functions.

For example:

to record audio;
speaker for two-way dialogue;
switchable IR filter for good picture day and night;
panoramic view system (drive that continuously rotates the camera 360 degrees);
port for connecting memory cards;
block of wireless (or networks of mobile providers) communication;
heating and temperature control system.

Depending on the tasks facing video surveillance, you can choose one or another model with the required level of reliability, protection and functionality.

Setup and preparation for work

Setting up the camera is not only setting the parameters for working with it in the DVR or other head unit.

A PTZ camera will only show its full potential when:

the installation site is optimally chosen, without blind spots, with a viewing area that implies minimal time intervals for turning the tracking device;
vibration protection is taken, easy access for damage;
the minimum possibility of direct sunlight hitting the observation dome is controlled, which can both cause overheating and affect the image (cause flare).

The software setting of the camera depends on the type of head unit, but in general terms it can be described as follows:

channel selection;
setting of all broadcast channels (levels of program compensation, brightness-saturation and others);
selection of one of the supported control protocols;
setting the parameters of the video stream (speed, and hence the degree of loading of the data channel);
setting the scheme of stop bits that are used to divide the stream;
selection of data error correction protocol;
filling in the time diagram (traffic intervals, angles of inclination - the formation of a complete map of the territory overview).

Mandatory PTZ camera settings include setting the IP address for digital devices. Also, today it is easy to purchase models on the market that offer support for standard authorization protocols equipped with their own wireless transmitters.

For such devices, you may need to specify the name of the access point, register with . To carry out the correct setting, it is recommended to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Advantages and disadvantages

PTZ surveillance cameras should be evaluated comprehensively, in relation to the task for which they can be used.

AT individual cases- the disadvantages of devices of this class do not play any role, the advantages come first.

Similarly, if you pay attention only to the pros and do not fully use the offered opportunities, the cons can nullify the entire usefulness of the PTZ video surveillance system.

The cameras of this class have the following advantages:

significant viewing angle, up to panoramic and surround (360 horizontally and close to 90 vertically);
scalability, along with the optical zoom of servo-driven optics, most models offer digital image zoom;
the ability to set a schedule, a timing diagram, which includes both moving the viewpoint and changing the zoom and focus;
fully robotic control that allows you to set clear goals, the rest (moving, focusing, switching modes) will be done by smart built-in control of ptz surveillance cameras;
the ability to implement different schemes for reacting to events.

With the right design of the surveillance system - PTZ devices are able to show cost savings by replacing several stationary models at once.

However, such technical means also have disadvantages:

price. The cost of a PTZ camera equal in terms of video stream characteristics is several times higher than a similar IP class device;
service. Due to the complexity of the technical implementation, the large number of moving parts, the level of failure and wear of the PTZ system components is quite high. Cameras require periodic service, inspection, preventive maintenance;
low rates of standardization. Each PTZ manufacturer offers its own software, which is not compatible with competitors' products. Therefore, it is difficult or impossible to build an optimal structure using cameras from different brands.

The disadvantages of robotic cameras are understandable and quite expected. Therefore, with the correct design of video surveillance systems and a sober assessment of the possibilities, they do not play an important role.

Conclusion

Robotic PTZ cameras have recently been an expensive luxury.

However, thanks to technological progress, many design solutions have shown a sharp price reduction and, as a result, smart, automatic devices have become available to the average mass consumer.

With the right design of a video surveillance system - PTZ cameras are able to realize their full positive potential.

Video: Setting up a PTZ CCTV Camera

This review focuses on how to control the Speed Dome integrated PTZ cameras.

Modern prices for domes range from $500 to $600 for Chinese brands to several thousand euros for well-known Japanese, American or European brands. Unlike individual pan and tilt mechanisms, where control is carried out by its own pair for each degree of freedom (mainly 24 or 220 V alternating voltage), a telemetry receiver is integrated into the SpeedDome, which allows you to control the camera with just two wires (in the case of RS-485; some models require 4 wires for duplex control) or video cable. Well, SpeedDome IP video cameras do not require additional control wires at all, although they usually have the ability to work "the old fashioned way".

Controllers and keyboards

PTZ camera features

Control by DVR non-PC

PTZ camera control has been an integral basic function of DVRs for a very long time. Only very cheap and very limited DVRs can afford not to have one. Cameras with non-PC DVRs are controlled in 99% of cases using the RS-485 interface. Some newer hybrid recorders that can work with both analog and IP cameras may support control over IP. According to the control method, all DVRs can be divided into 3 types: those that control using the keyboard of the DVR (from the front panel), control only the mouse (for DVRs where there is no keyboard), and DVRs that support both options. The first option is acceptable only for those who very rarely use manual control of PTZ cameras (cameras are configured to bypass "presets" or "tours" in automatic mode). In most cases, using the front panel of a video recorder to control a PTZ camera is a pain in the ass, as there are only limited buttons to work with: no 3D joysticks. Mouse control can also vary greatly. The simple version is an imitation of the same limited set of buttons from the front panel, it is not much more convenient. Other NVRs may use roughly the same mechanism as described in the previous section, which is found mostly in IP cameras. Of course, you will have to configure everything using the same buttons or on-screen menu, but this is the only option for all DVRs. Total: the mouse is good, the keyboard is not very good. The good news is that there are more and more mouse-controlled registrars, but even the latter's internal software can vary greatly.

Software (PC-based DVR)

Computer DVRs always outperform non-PCs. Firstly, new technologies, especially resource-intensive and complex ones, are easier to develop and debug on computers, and secondly, competition with DVRs based on embedded processors forces the same developers to constantly add new features and capabilities, make their software more flexible and powerful. . What new software developers offer us for video recording and control of PTZ cameras? If we discard the variations associated with the interactivity of control directly on the image, or the imitation of a 2D joystick, then 3 categories of new products (interfaces) can be distinguished separately. The first is adding the ability to automatically control those cameras that do not have it initially, that is, controlling the camera using a motion detector in the software. Such detectors can be more powerful and advanced than those built into cameras. The second and third ones are connected with the use of at least one more video camera (overview), the field of view of which coincides completely or partially with the turning one at the minimum focal length.

Manual control

Automatic control

This implies the same bundle of overview and PTZ cameras. The motion detector analyzes the image from the overview camera and sends commands to the PTZ camera - now the control is fully automatic. Systems of this kind appeared many years ago, however, then they worked according to presets - each square of the image of the overview camera was assigned its own position, and as we remember, Speed Dome can have up to 256 presets. However, now developers use the capabilities of not only modern detectors, but also video cameras. The detectors are smart enough to transmit not just the coordinates of the object, but also the vector of its movement, since while the camera is turning towards the object, it may already have shifted. And the cameras have the ability not only to work according to presets, but also to execute direct commands to install at certain coordinates; they also have sufficient speed. It should only be noted that not all Speed Dome cameras, even from the average price range, will support these functions. You should not expect that the Chinese noname will be as fast and will have a fully implemented protocol, especially a borrowed one. If several objects appear in the field of view of the overview camera, the PTZ camera will switch between them, following each one for the set time. Today, some developers are supplying systems that can control multiple Speed Dome cameras at the same time, and virtually unlimited combinations of panoramic and PTZ cameras, where you can have a live view of what is happening around 360 ° around, while providing high resolution and detail of moving objects. It would seem that with the increase in resolution, when there are already digital video cameras of 5.8 Mpx and more, the need for such a solution is not so high. But the optical zoom is still difficult to replace, and a combination of panoramic and PTZ cameras using, for example, a 35x zoom gives the equivalent of a system resolution of more than 300 megapixels - digital cameras will not be able to achieve the same result soon. Again, the use of megapixel panoramic and PTZ cameras will always push this barrier forward. Of course, this system also has disadvantages. First, as mentioned, not all PTZ cameras are compatible, and not all of them are fast enough to track objects moving at high angular velocity. Secondly, the system increases in price (however, the fee is worth it - like any increase in functionality that increases the security of the facility or your enterprise). Thirdly, the system requires calibration - setting the coordinates of the overview and PTZ cameras (although there are positive shifts here - for some cameras you need to set only 9 coordinate anchor points, and the rest will be calculated by the system itself).

It can be noted in which direction we should expect the development of manual and automatic control technology:

Switching to megapixel panoramic and PTZ cameras and striving for higher resolution;
construction of panoramic images, composed of images received from a plurality of survey cameras, which also include images of rotary ones. Thus, a single interactive scene of an object or its section is created. However, it will be inferior without the ability to reproduce the archive in the same way (although this can be a serious load on the server);
improving the performance of motion detectors. New tracing technologies, scene and object recognition, improved tracing quality at night.
Of course, one should not rely entirely on the capabilities of the detectors. It is not worth saving on video cameras, hoping that the detector will cope with both noise and low-resolution images. The general rule for any security system is that a system will only be as bad as its smallest component. A cheap lens attached to an expensive camera, a cable with a low-quality connector, or any other component can wipe out all your costs.

Glossary

Speed Dome- speed dome PTZ camera. High-speed in comparison with usual rotary mechanisms. Dome, since more than 90% of such cameras are designed as a cylinder with a domed optically transparent casing that protects the optics and mechanism from dust and moisture. Speed Dome cameras are also called integrated, meaning that all the necessary components are assembled in one body: the video camera itself, optics, a two-coordinate mechanism and a telemetry receiver.

preset- the ability of the Speed Dome to be set to a pre-programmed position with the maximum available speed. Various modifications can store from 32 to 256 presets.

Tours(Tour, or Touring) - the ability of a PTZ video camera to execute a series of commands, such as a sequence of presets. The advanced option involves the camera remembering your actions and then cyclic execution. Protocol - a set of commands for controlling PTZ cameras using a telemetry receiver. Usually, large manufacturers use their own protocol, but they also necessarily integrate additional Pelco types, which have become the de facto standard due to the openness of the manufacturer's policy. Small manufacturers use only such open protocols and implement (depending on their laziness or camera capabilities) only a part of the commands. PTZ is an abbreviation for Pan, Tilt and Zoom, respectively horizontal and vertical rotation and lens control. A PTZ camera is a correspondingly integrated camera with a swivel mechanism and a zoom lens.

PTZ - the camera has a robotic mechanism with a built-in electronic-mechanical drive for video surveillance control, which controls the rotation and tilt of the device. PTZ - abbreviation (Pan Tilt Zoom), means that the camera is controlled remotely, and the camera itself has a zoom function. The optical zoom remotely changes the angle and field of view of the lens (enlarges / reduces the observed object). The cameras are controlled using a remote control or special software / hardware (if the equipment is connected to the network protocol).

Tracking Automation

An innovative hardware program is installed in the firmware of the PTZ camera. Through this software, the modulation of pixels in the image is controlled, which is transmitted and then sets the device in motion. The tracking function (tracking/turning) of the object, due to movement, changes the pixels and therefore the device focuses on the center of their fluctuations. Next, PTZ estimates the distance at which the tracking object is located and its dimensions. When the moving object has left the field of view of the video equipment, the device returns to its original position or to the one that was pre-programmed when the initial setup was carried out. This procedure will start again when the camera registers other changes.

Kinds

Analog CCTV cameras. After digitization (processing by a digital processor) of the resulting image, a special signal is sent to the electric converter. It, in turn, modulates these signals to analog (PAL / NTSC). The device is connected to a video server or DVR. To organize the control of equipment, during installation, another special cable is attached. The main disadvantages of such equipment for video surveillance are the poor resolution of the received images, as well as their deterioration during the transmission of a special signal.
Digital IP video surveillance cameras. The processed image is transferred via the IP/TCP protocol to digital form. This data is sent to the IP registrar or IP server (video). Management together with data transmission is carried out on a single cable. Higher image resolution is achieved when compared with analog cameras.

Design options

Street dome hemisphere or Speed Dome. Exclusively all components of the device (electronics and mechanics) are placed in a sealed hemisphere. Thanks to this placement, the penetration of dust particles and moisture into the housing is completely prevented. It also increases the level of protection against vandals. The temperature regime during the operation of such devices is: -50 ° - + 60 ° С.
Outdoor dome spherical PTZ. A similar hemisphere model, but the difference is a more powerful infrared illumination. It has a high degree of fault tolerance, that is, it excludes the effects of moisture, dust and has protection against acts of vandalism. The temperature regime of equipment operation ranges from -40° to +60°С.
Rotary body PTZ (indoors). The moving chamber units are open, so mechanical elements interact with the external environment. As a result - low protection against the influence of dust and moisture. The operating temperature of the device ranges from 0° to +55° С.
Spherical dome PTZ (indoor). It is intended for installation inside buildings and structures, as it requires the absence of low temperatures, as well as high humidity and dust.
The outdoor robotic PTZ is a hybrid of a motor drive and an outdoor camera. At the moment, the dome camera has replaced the robotic camera from the market. Accordingly, the latter is rare.

General characteristics

optical zoom;
digital zoom;
pan control;
tilt control;
audio signal transmission;
autotracking;
continuous rotation;
temperature control;
built-in memory cards;
round the clock video surveillance.

The quality of the transmitted image, detail, sound and a set of additional video surveillance functions depend on the model and purpose of each individual device.

Extended functionality

sound transmission;
bypass records;
patrol along the route;
connection of external devices;
chamber temperature control (for extreme environmental conditions);
weather protection (wind, rain, snow);
integration of various intelligent applications.

Areas of use

premises;
open area.

Thanks to the built-in heating of internal and external components, as well as a sealed housing, the dome camera can be used in areas with any maximum temperatures and various climatic conditions. Some models can be operated in places where human presence is impossible due to the impact of hazardous factors. For example, at the enterprises of the nuclear and chemical industries. And thanks to the optical zoom (zoom), the devices are actively used for videoconferencing and negotiations.

Also PTZ control is popular in TV production. Used on professional studio cameras for robotic control.

Setting procedure

PTZ cameras are used in two modes:

fixed;
mobile.

Working in a fixed (steady) video surveillance mode, the device (even dome equipment) is always statically directed to the monitored surveillance area. As a rule, without camera position control (a rotary function is present), but with a possible remote reconfiguration, if necessary.

When working in mobile video surveillance mode, the angle of the direction of the device periodically changes to expand / narrow the point of view and detail the necessary objects.

As a rule, customers have a technical task or a rough idea of where the camera should be, what zones it should be aimed at, the frequency and route of movement. All options for video surveillance and control are individual.

After installing video surveillance, you need to configure the camera according to terms of reference. It doesn't matter whether it's a PTZ camera or a static one, dome or regular, outdoor or indoor - the setup process is almost identical in all cases. Analog cameras are configured in the same way as digital IP cameras. It is only worth noting that digital IP cameras can also be configured through the DVR and through the software / hardware that is pre-installed on the computer.

Setup and programming is usually done by CCTV installers.

How to set up an analog PTZ camera

Connecting the camera to the recorder.
Information setting of operating modes.
Select the required monitoring channel.
Individual settings for each PTZ monitoring channel.
Specify the control protocol (depending on the one supported by the camera).
Select the baud rate value.
The task of the stop bit parameters (transmitted to separate information).
The choice of method for detecting errors in the transmission of information.
The task of the IP address of the device for the registrar (connection is established through it).
Specifying the mode and schedule of camera movements.

For remote control of IP PTZ-surveillance cameras are used:

wireless infrared remote control;
mouse;
special software (which adds the ability to automatically control cameras);
wired USB remote control;
control via Ethernet interface (for high-speed data transmission by cameras);
remote control keyboard with 3D joystick.

For the equipment of the control and video surveillance system, for any territory, the best option would be a rotary dome PTZ IP video camera. It is the dome IP camera that is resistant to aggressive environments, has convenient control and allows you to control even the largest area without leaving blind spots. The dome camera and its various variations are the most popular type of PTZ cameras.

What is ptz. Control of PTZ video cameras Speed ​​Dome. Controllers and keyboards