SBIR Phase II: A Novel 360-Degree Video Surveillance Camera

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目将开发一种新型360°视频监控摄像机，该摄像机使用光学展开代替数字展开，提供360°全景视场（FOV）。该公司的专有成像技术可以提供比使用相同传感器芯片的传统相机高70%的图像分辨率，并且不使用移动部件。它不仅可以获取周围场景的360°视频，而且可以直接观看360°视频图像，这是第一次不需要外部计算硬件/软件进行展开。该摄像机将以前所未有的360°全景视场进行视频监控，消除盲点，并大大提高图像质量。可直接观看的360°视频也将增强监控实践中的可视化、通信和响应时间。在SBIR计划下开发的拟议成像技术是一种具有许多潜在应用的平台技术。作为一项突破性的光学成像技术，它将引导许多研究人员和实践者重新思考视频图像的捕获方式，并催生商业企业将其带入各种商业市场。除了支持视频监控产品，例如360°盒式摄像机，笔倾斜变焦（PTZ）摄像机，微型摄像机等，该技术还将在医疗和工业内窥镜，管道检查，涡轮发动机诊断，汽车安全设备，导航，移动机器人，视频会议和互联网网络广播等领域实现商业应用。该公司选择了三个垂直市场来开发具有重要价值主张的创新产品。这三个垂直市场分别是：(1)视频监控摄像头（约130亿美元）；(2)汽车安全产品，如后视镜和停车传感器（约134亿美元）；(3)医疗和工业内窥镜（约43亿美元）。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a novel 360° video surveillance camera which provides a simultaneous panoramic 360° field of view (FOV) using optical unwrapping, instead of digital unwrapping. The company's proprietary imaging technology can provide 70% greater image resolution than conventional cameras using the same sensor chip, and employs no moving parts. Not only can it acquire 360° video of a surrounding scene, but also such 360° video images can be viewed directly, for the first time, without need of external computational hardware/software for unwrapping. The proposed camera would perform video surveillance with unprecedented panoramic 360° field of view that eliminates blind spots, and greatly enhances image quality. The directly viewable 360° video would also enhance visualization, communication, and response time in surveillance practice. The proposed imaging technology developed under this SBIR program is a platform technology with numerous potential applications. As a breakthrough optical imaging technology, it will lead many researchers and practitioners to rethink the way video images are captured and spawn commercial ventures to bring it to various commercial markets. In addition to enabling video surveillance products, e.g., 360° box camera, pen-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera, miniature camera, etc., this technology will lead to commercial applications in areas such as medical and industrial endoscopes, pipe inspection, turbine engine diagnosis, automotive safety devices, navigation, mobile robotics, video conferencing, and internet webcast. The company has selected three vertical markets in which to develop innovative product(s) offering significant value propositions. These three vertical markets are: (1) video surveillance cameras (~$13 billion), (2) automotive safety products, e.g., rearview mirrors and parking sensors, (~$13.4 billion), and (3) medical and industrial endoscopes (~$4.3 billion).