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Home > News > CVC 2000 Press Release

CVC 2000 Digital Video Compressor Press Release

Cobra is pleased to announce a breakthrough in the collection of compressed digital video and the end of the much-maligned video tape with the availability of the CVC 2000 digital video/audio compressor.

For some time users have been converting VHS tapes to MPEG compressed video in the office and transferring the video files to CD's. This method of conversion is time consuming, expensive and only effectively makes a digital video tape with the same limitations on searching for specific defects on the file.

The CVC 2000 is designed to compress video and audio in a standard MPEG1 format (.mpg). The compression rate is defaulted to a specific resolution (SIF) and the video is stored at 29.9 frames per second. The operator in the field, if necessary, can modify the video resolution.

Now the CVC 2000 converts the video and audio (if required) collected in the field to a digital file in real time in the Inspection van. Designed for use in conjunction with the CDL 8000 data logger, the CVC 2000 is linked to the CDL 8000 via a serial interface. The CDL 8000 sends to the CVC 2000 the selected file name (normally the Work Order #) to the CVC 2000 at the start of the inspection. The CVC opens the files and automatically starts storing the video digitally in an MPEG 1 compressed format.

At the completion of the inspection the CVC 2000 automatically closes the file and is then ready for a new file as soon as the data logger sends a new file name to the CVC 2000. Each new file starts the elapsed time at 0.0 seconds

The pause feature, built into the CDL 8000, allows the operator to pause and restart the video file at any time eliminating unnecessary video information being stored in the file. This feature allows the user to capture the complete inspection or select only parts of the pipe that might need to be recorded, such as areas of specific interest to the Owner or Engineer.

Each time an observation is entered into the CDL 8000 data logger, the CVC 2000 automatically sends back to the CDL the current elapsed time. This information is appended to the observation for subsequent transfer to the database in the office.

Once the video is collected in the field, the files are transferred to the office using a removable drive unit. The video files are transferred to a host PC where they are authored and burned to a CD or a DVD disk. At this time the CIMS™ software interrogates the CD/DVD and the name of the disk is linked to each work order found in the database. This important feature provides a bi directional link to and from the database to the CD/DVD disk.

Cobra is presently working on the ability to transfer video and accompanying data to the office using the new 5GHz 802.11 wireless Ethernet transfer protocol. This wireless transfer will transfer a day's work to the office host in a matter of minutes when the inspection vans come in from the field at the end of the day. This wireless transfer is primarily designed for Municipalities that have fixed location at the end of each day.

CIMS™ database can call the video files from the CD/DVD and play back the video using a modified Microsoft Windows Media Player when viewing the observations contained in the work order. No special hardware is needed to view the Cobra digital videos on any PC.

A new feature will soon be available so the user can access specific locations on the video by double clicking on any observation on either the cross section or the plan view screens and the video file will move to that point instantly. A dynamic pipeline will indicate the precise location of the video file at any time on the display screens.

This advanced design of the video interface will now allow users to quickly access videos on CD /DVD discs

A CD will handle approximately 90 minutes of video in an MPEG 1 compressed format; however, the DVD disc will hold 600 minutes of video (10 Hours) at the 4.7GB level. The capacity of the DVD is projected to increase dramatically in the near future and is already available at 9.4GB capacity. The proposed eventual capacity of the DVD Disc is expected to be in the 100GB range.

Cobra Technologies has been a technology leader in the Pipeline Inspection Industry for many years. Other manufacturers are being forced to upgrade the quality of their equipment as a direct result of the innovative approach Cobra pursues in improving the quality of equipment available in the market place.

It is easy to design and build complex equipment, it is not so easy to design and build simple equipment that retains the functionality of the complex equipment. We at Cobra excel in making the equipment we design simple to use yet retain the full functionality required by the Users.

The new CVC 2000 is now available in production quantities and can be installed in any video inspection system in use today. Call today for a demonstration and pricing at 800 443 3761 and ask for Alan Grant or Claire Hanson.