Video plays an important role in many aerospace, defence and special mission applications. From camera imagery to moving maps and other video sources, operators need information to reach the right display in a format that can be used by the wider system.

However, getting an image from its source to an operator’s screen is not always as simple as connecting a camera to a display. Different equipment can use different video formats, interfaces and architectures, creating challenges when integrating multiple systems.

At RDDS Avionics, video management is one of our core areas of expertise. Since 1993, RDDS has developed solutions to address bespoke video management requirements, helping customers integrate video equipment into wider systems.

Where Does the Video Come From?

The journey begins with the source.

Depending on the application, video may originate from cameras, imaging systems, moving map equipment or other connected hardware. RDDS’s published display information, for example, describes applications involving infrared cameras, moving map systems and radar processors.

These sources may not all produce video in the same format. The equipment receiving the signal must therefore be compatible with the source, or an appropriate method of conversion and processing must be provided.

This is where video management becomes important.

The Challenge of Different Video Formats

One of the challenges in integrating video equipment is ensuring that different devices can communicate effectively.

A system may include both established equipment and newer technology, each with its own signal formats and interface requirements. A video source may produce a signal that the intended display or wider system cannot accept directly.

RDDS supports a range of video formats and interfaces, including HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, HD-SDI, 3G-SDI, VGA, composite PAL/NTSC, S-Video, STANAG 3350 and Video over Ethernet (VoE), including GVA/VICTORY-related applications.

The formats required will depend on the particular system and application. Understanding these requirements is an important part of selecting the appropriate equipment and resolving potential integration challenges.

The Role of a Video Management Unit

A Video Management Unit (VMU) helps manage the movement and processing of video signals within a system.

Rather than requiring every source and destination to operate with an identical signal format, video management equipment can provide functions that help different parts of the system work together.

Depending on the unit and configuration, RDDS video management solutions can provide:

• Video switching: Selecting between available video sources.

• Format conversion: Converting signals between supported video formats.

• Video scaling: Adjusting the size or resolution of an image.

• Video cropping: Modifying the visible area of an image.

• Video buffering: Supporting the handling of video signals within the system.

• Video distribution: Routing or providing video to the required outputs.

• Video pass-through: Allowing a signal to pass through a unit without active processing, where supported.

These functions can help address compatibility issues between video sources, displays and third-party equipment.

RDDS offers several video management products, including the IU1800, IU300, VSU500 and VHB2412. Each has its own intended functionality, so the appropriate choice depends on the signal requirements and wider system architecture.

From Video Management to the Display

Once a signal has been handled appropriately, it needs to reach the display that the operator will use.

RDDS manufactures rugged displays for aerospace, defence and special mission applications. Its range includes different sizes, resolutions and configurations, with capabilities varying between products.

For example, the RD1173 Full HD touchscreen display supports HD and standard-definition video formats. It also offers configurable quad-screen capability, allowing four separate inputs to be displayed together, alongside picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture modes.

These functions provide options for presenting multiple video sources within a single display, depending on the requirements of the application and the selected configuration.

The display is therefore not necessarily the end of a simple one-source, one-screen connection. It can form part of a wider arrangement involving several sources, video processing functions and operator controls.

Integrating Existing and New Equipment

Video integration can become more complicated when equipment from different manufacturers must work together.

Some systems have established architectures or specific interface requirements that limit the options for introducing additional equipment. In these situations, the challenge is to incorporate the required video functionality while respecting the constraints of the existing system.

RDDS’s VHB2412 RIB Conversion and Video Switch is one example of a product developed to address this type of requirement. The unit supports the integration of imagery from other manufacturers into a Remote Imaging Bus (RIB) system, where the existing architecture would otherwise limit the options for introducing external video sources.

RDDS also develops video management solutions that can be modified from existing qualified units. Where an off-the-shelf product does not meet the requirement, the company’s bespoke design and manufacturing capabilities provide another route to addressing specific integration challenges.

The objective is to identify a suitable solution for the actual system, rather than assuming every requirement can be met by a standard product.

Why the Whole System Matters

A video source, management unit and display need to be considered in the context of the wider system.

The relevant signal formats, interfaces, processing requirements and intended outputs all influence the equipment needed. Defining these requirements helps identify compatibility issues and determine whether existing products, modifications or a bespoke solution may be appropriate.

This is why RDDS engages directly with customers on their video management requirements. Its engineers can help assess interconnect challenges and identify potential solutions based on the needs of the particular application.

Bringing the Pieces Together

Getting video from a sensor to an operator involves more than simply displaying an image. The source, signal format, processing requirements, interfaces and destination all need to work together.

RDDS Avionics brings together video management, display and bespoke engineering capabilities to address these requirements across aerospace, defence and special mission applications.

From switching and conversion to distribution and display, the right equipment depends on the needs of the wider system.

To discuss a video management or integration requirement, contact RDDS Avionics to speak with our engineering team.

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