Government

Sony Reinvents Police Surveillance With Robotic Network Cameras

Classic movie scenes of undercover officers in the front seat of their car, drinking coffee to stay awake during late-night stakeouts, are now sights from the past due to a revolution in portable, robotic video surveillance brought to police departments around the country by Sony.

These law enforcement agencies are saving time and money by creating innovative, portable surveillance platforms that integrate Sony IPELA® RZ30N PTZ robotic network cameras to replace traditional (and time consuming) stakeout assignments. Instead of having to camp out on rooftops, police in Milpitas, California, for example, now enjoy the same birds-eye view from their office desktops by placing the surveillance platform at crucial locations.

"The Sony cameras save the investment in man hours and overtime associated with traditional stakeout teams equipped with binoculars on rooftops," said Dave Rossetto, commander of special operations for the Milpitas Police Department. "Now, officers can watch from their desks, which allow them to make better use of their time by working on other projects while keeping an eye out for criminal activity".

Located near the heart of Silicon Valley, Milpitas is home to many high tech professionals who leave their laptop computers in cars as they visit restaurants and retailers in the malls around town. When a team of professional thieves targeted a mall parking lot and stole roughly 11 laptops in a single spree, Rossetto met with Bill Marion, the city's IT manager, to devise a plan deploying new IP security technology to monitor vulnerable areas. After hearing the commander's security needs, Marion says he understood what would be a suitable solution and managed to build it in five days. Marion constructed a portable surveillance package with a Sony RZ30N PTZ robotic network camera and digital video recorder accessible through a Tropos 5110 wireless transmitter. When Rossetto saw this creation, Marion says he dubbed it the "Cyclops" and immediately put the unit to work.

According to Marion, designing the "Cyclops" was simple. He says that already, the city had several Sony RZ30N cameras deployed to observe a major freeway intersection, as well as to catch vandals who had been defacing a municipal facility. The challenge here, according to Marion, was designing a solution that could operate separately from any wired network connection. Typically, the only facilities available at such locations are standard power outlets. According to Marion, because the RZ30N acts as a standard IP network device, it was easy to pull the package together quickly using off-the-shelf components.

"The RZN30 impressed us from the start with its ability to accept a standard network card, opening up the tremendous possibilities for wireless connectivity," Marion said. "What continues to impress us is the camera's amazing zoom imaging capabilities. We are able to reach out across these parking lots to get a clear look at license plates at distances of more than 200 yards."

At present, the individual cameras deployed in Milpitas are operated through the RZ30N's integrated web server. Police officers simply click a desktop shortcut on their computer to gain immediate access. If they miss a detail in the real-time stream, the data is stored for review on a workstation. The web-based controls are immediately apparent and require only basic computer skills.

According to Marion, the success of the first portable Sony IP-based security system has put in motion plans to build additional units. Having a flexible response to crime rather than having to install permanent cameras all across town makes it economically viable, given the city's budgetary constraints, he added. As the surveillance capabilities increase, Rossetto expects that Sony Real Shot Manager® software will be deployed to manage multiple stakeouts, delivering even greater value. According to Rossetto, this all adds up to an incredible return on investment for the city.

"The modest initial capital outlay needed to purchase these systems delivers ongoing human resource savings," Rossetto said. "The 'Cyclops' lets us leverage technology to provide more services to the people of Milpitas for less money, which is a win-win across the board."

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