Aviation & Missile Research, Development, & Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Video Collection & Data Management System Project Overview Project Requirements Data Management Solution Video Collection, Improvement of Current System System Diagram Next Generation Video Collection Video Collection RequirementsData Management Requirements  Capture 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) 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 Features Unique Test Record Test TitleTest Date Test IDTest Requestor Test TypeTest Requestor ManufacturerTest 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 FilterKeyword Search DateTitle ManufacturerRequestor Test TypeComments User Features Data Flow Diagram Project Team Members Bill Whiteley Bill Whiteley (Project Manager) Electrical Engineer Jostin Crass Electrical Engineer Jonathan Ahlbin Electrical Engineer Ryan Davis Ryan Davis* Electrical Engineer Jonathan Suggs Jonathan Suggs** Electrical Engineer Josh Sadler Josh Sadler** Electrical Engineer Project Overview Project Advisors Andrew Dozier, Ph.D. Professor, Vanderbilt University, School of Engineering Jay Lilley, Ph.D. Director, Propulsion and Structures Directorate, AMRDEC George Arkoosh Primary Contact, Propulsion and Structures Directorate, AMRDEC Chip 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 Manufacturer Simultaneous 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 Recommendations An 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 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 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