Aviation & Missile Research, Development, & Engineering Center Aviation & Missile Research, Development, & Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Video Collection & Data Management System(AMRDEC) Video Collection & Data Management System

Project OverviewProject Overview Project RequirementsProject Requirements

Data Management SolutionData Management Solution

Video Collection, Improvement of Video Collection, Improvement of Current SystemCurrent System

System DiagramSystem Diagram Next Generation Video CollectionNext Generation Video Collection

Video Collection Requirements Data Management RequirementsCapture 4 video/audio feeds simultaneously

Removable hard drives

Converts/Export video to .avi format

Capture at 640 x 480 resolution

Capture at 30 frames per second

System must include restore software

System must include TTL Support

System must have an open architecture

System must include instant replay

System must store digital test data files

Users must be able to retrieve data from a thin client program (browser) connected to the application server

Users must be able to search or filter through previously entered test cases to find specific test data

Access to unprotected data must be restricted

System interface must be simple and intuitive

The AMRDEC Video Collection & Data Management System is an engineering senior design project with the goal of improving the collection and management of critical test data for the United States Army, Propulsion and Structures Directorate. This directorate, located at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville Alabama, is responsible for conducting various tests on propulsion systems for the armed forces.

The Video Collection & Data Management System undertook a two pronged approach to the engineering challenge. The first objective of the project was to improve the video collection process at the testing facility. Detailed analysis of the current collection system led to two improvement recommendations. The first recommendation was on how to stream line the current process and the other recommendation was for the next generation of collection systems. The second objective focused on the management of data generated by the propulsion tests. This led to a custom data management solution called the VENOM System that will enable test data to be easily stored and retrieved from any networked computer with the proper authorization.

The Vanderbilt Electronic Networked Management (VENOM) SystemThe Vanderbilt Electronic Networked Management (VENOM) System • The VENOM System General Concept

• Develop a custom data management software application• Host the application on a networked connected application server• Allow access through standard browser software to authorized users

• Venom Operational Concept• Data is generated and collected from propulsion and structures tests• New test record is created in the VENOM System with associated metadata• Generated test data is uploaded to the VENOM System electronic holding bin• Test data is selected from the holding bin and attached to a test record• Archived test data is available for download through searching and filtering of test cases based on test record metadata

The VENOM System FeaturesThe VENOM System Features

Unique Test Record•Test Title •Test Date•Test ID •Test Requestor•Test Type •Test Requestor •Manufacturer •Test Comments

Administration Features• Application Configuration

•Connection to remote MS SQL DB•Location of electronic holding bin•Location of long term data storage

• Application Settings•Add / Edit / Delete Manufacturers•Add / Edit / Delete Test Types•Set Super User Password

Super User Features• View electronic holding bin

• Remove files from electronic holding bin

• Attach files from Holding Bin to test case record

• Edit test records

Sorting Test Data•Filter •Keyword Search

•Date •Title•Manufacturer•Requestor•Test Type•Comments

User FeaturesUser Features

Data Flow DiagramData Flow Diagram

Project Team Members

Bill WhiteleyBill Whiteley (Project Manager)•Electrical Engineer

Jostin CrassJostin Crass•Electrical Engineer

Jonathan AhlbinJonathan Ahlbin•Electrical Engineer

Ryan DavisRyan Davis*•Electrical Engineer

Jonathan SuggsJonathan Suggs**•Electrical Engineer

Josh SadlerJosh Sadler**•Electrical Engineer

Project OverviewProject Overview

Project Advisors

Andrew Dozier, Ph.D.Andrew Dozier, Ph.D.• Professor, Vanderbilt University,

School of EngineeringJay Lilley, Ph.D.Jay Lilley, Ph.D.

• Director, Propulsion and Structures Directorate, AMRDEC

George ArkooshGeorge Arkoosh• Primary Contact, Propulsion and

Structures Directorate, AMRDECChip CliftonChip Clifton

• Teaching Assistant, Vanderbilt University, School of Engineering

*Ryan Davis joined the project team in the Spring semester of 2005

** Jonathan Suggs and Josh Sadler graduated at the end of the Fall semester 2004

ManufacturerSimultaneous Capture of 4 video feeds

Simultaneous Capture of 4 audio feeds

Convert/Export to .avi

Capture at

640x480

Capture at 30 FPS

Restore Disks\

Removable HDD

TTL Support

Open Architecture

Instant Playback

Euresys Picolo

Pelco DX8000

DVS SD Station Plus

AVID Newscutter XP

with Mojo

Next Generation Video Collection RecommendationsNext Generation Video Collection RecommendationsAn analysis of existing off-the-shelf video collection packages is shown below

•Avid is the best candidate for the next generation video collection system.•Purchase copies of Newscutter XP software to install on suitable AMRDEC workstations, one copy for each camera.

• Instead of purchasing the Mojos, upgrade to DV-25 cameras.•This allows for direct firewire connection•DV-25 cameras capture at a higher frame rate for improve quality

Current Process Current Process •Physical Capture of DV tapes using Panasonic DV2000 and Adobe Premier Pro•Problems with this process

• Adobe Premier is very extensive and extremely difficult to use• Capture Process is sometimes not reliable and takes a long time to complete• Task needs to be accomplished by someone other than current operator, who is a valuable engineer, which results in a rather expensive capture process

• The current operator needs to be accomplishing his engineering tasks instead of fighting with the current capture process

Improvement of Current Process Improvement of Current Process •Physical Capture of DV tapes using Panasonic DV2000 and Roxio Media Creator•Solves problems with the current process

• Roxio Media Creator has a very simple user interface and is extremely easy to use• Capture Process is reliable and can be performed unattended• Task can be accomplished by anyone who can operate a computer

•Eliminating the need to have the expensive engineer perform the capture process• Roxio also has built in post-production tools for easy video editing and media creation