Arclight
SAR guy
Hi all,
This is going to be an odd request. I volunteer with a search and rescue team in California. Recently, we've had more callouts for mine-related searches and incidents.
We are a technical team that can lower people down into environments like this, but it's slow and it incurs risk. If we had another way to clear a mine shaft quickly, it would add to our capabilities and speed up searches where we suspect someone might have fallen or been dumped into an abandoned shaft.
What I'm looking to do, is build a high-quality rig that can be lowered down a hole.
Here is what I think we want:
1. Ability to record video to an on-board card/device in HD. Camera must have a wide field of view and good dynamic range.
2. The capability of sending video back (possibly at lower quality) wirelessly. I'd like suggestions for 900/1.2/2.4/5.8Ghz rigs.
3. To go along with #2, a high-quality portable monitor that also record the session to an SD card. Ideally, one that can run on 12V and that has the abiliity to use an external receiver and/or antenna that we can position directly over the shaft.
4. A bright, rugged source of diffused light. I don't care about color-correctness so much. It needs to be able to provide sufficient light for the above cameras to illuminate a 10x10' area from 10' away if at all possible.
5. The above equipment will need to be packaged so as to be waterproof. Often times mines will end in sumps, so it may do a "splashdown" at the bottom. It does not need to be dive-rated. We have machining, 3D printing and other fabrication at our disposal.
6. The whole thing should be able to be operated with a simple checklist and nto require NASA-level oeprators. It will most likely get stuffed in a Pelican case and forgotten about between missions. The batteries for everything should be easy to charge and maintain.
For purposes of this discussion, let's say the budget is $1500. More money could be begged if there is a compelling reason why it would make the project better.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Cheers,
Arclight
This is going to be an odd request. I volunteer with a search and rescue team in California. Recently, we've had more callouts for mine-related searches and incidents.
We are a technical team that can lower people down into environments like this, but it's slow and it incurs risk. If we had another way to clear a mine shaft quickly, it would add to our capabilities and speed up searches where we suspect someone might have fallen or been dumped into an abandoned shaft.
What I'm looking to do, is build a high-quality rig that can be lowered down a hole.
Here is what I think we want:
1. Ability to record video to an on-board card/device in HD. Camera must have a wide field of view and good dynamic range.
2. The capability of sending video back (possibly at lower quality) wirelessly. I'd like suggestions for 900/1.2/2.4/5.8Ghz rigs.
3. To go along with #2, a high-quality portable monitor that also record the session to an SD card. Ideally, one that can run on 12V and that has the abiliity to use an external receiver and/or antenna that we can position directly over the shaft.
4. A bright, rugged source of diffused light. I don't care about color-correctness so much. It needs to be able to provide sufficient light for the above cameras to illuminate a 10x10' area from 10' away if at all possible.
5. The above equipment will need to be packaged so as to be waterproof. Often times mines will end in sumps, so it may do a "splashdown" at the bottom. It does not need to be dive-rated. We have machining, 3D printing and other fabrication at our disposal.
6. The whole thing should be able to be operated with a simple checklist and nto require NASA-level oeprators. It will most likely get stuffed in a Pelican case and forgotten about between missions. The batteries for everything should be easy to charge and maintain.
For purposes of this discussion, let's say the budget is $1500. More money could be begged if there is a compelling reason why it would make the project better.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Cheers,
Arclight
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