Navy testing out 360-degree technology from RemoteReality for periscopes
April 14th, 2008
The U.S. Navy is exploring the idea of 360-degree video, but it's not looking to catch crooks or watch over protected assets. Rather, the Navy is looking at technology from Massachusetts firm RemoteReality for its submarine periscopes.
The RemoteReality technology is a single-lens, single camera solution that uses complex mirrors to provide a 360-degree view that can be processed by software to create a traditional view (also see RemoteReality website for technology overview). According to RemoteReality's CEO Dennis McGinn, the Navy will be testing out one of their high-resolution 12 megapixel visible light omni cameras accompanied with a standard resolution (640x480 pixels) thermal infrared omni camera for use at night. The advantage, says McGinn, is that this omni-view type of technology gives an instant look in any direction for a submarine.
The tie in with the Navy comes as no surprise for RemoteReality, which bills its cameras as tools for situational awareness. CEO McGinn is a retired admiral of the U.S. Navy and once commanded The Third Fleet in the pacific. The company was awarded Office of Naval Research contracts to develop this technology in partnership with the Naval Underwater Weapons Center in Newport, R.I.