What Is PTZ Camera Control?
Pan-tilt-zoom, or PTZ, cameras are advanced surveillance cameras that allow an operator or a computer to control the camera in ways that a standard surveillance camera cannot, according to Surveillance-Video.com. PTZ-controlled cameras are usually used in commercial applications, such as in retail stores for theft reduction, as traffic cameras to monitor traffic flow, and in high security environments, such as government installations. PTZ cameras can be placed in the open or housed within a protective dome.
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Panning
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Panning control allows the camera to be moved from side to side horizontally. This motion allows the camera to track moving vehicles or any other object moving on a horizontal plane.
Tilting
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Tilting allows the camera to be moved up and down. This function is often controlled in conjunction with the panning control to track objects moving away from the camera, such as a car leaving a parking lot.
Typically, both panning and tilting are accomplished using a control mechanism, such as a joystick or computer. The control mechanism is connected to two small motors at the base of the camera, allowing the camera to move up and down and side to side.
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Zooming
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Zoom control is a more advanced control and allows the camera to be zoomed in on an object or person. Zooming is typically accomplished because the camera is equipped with a motor-controlled zoom lens, much like the lens in a zoom-equipped camcorder.
Zooming allows the operator to zoom in on a driver in a passing car or close up on the hand of a person suspected of shoplifting. Some zoom lenses can be very powerful, allowing the operator to see objects close up or up to a mile or more away.
Motion Controlled
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The PTZ functions also can be controlled automatically by a computer using a motion-tracking system. Motion-tracking cameras are usually used in remote locations or when there is no operator available. The computer will monitor the camera image, and when it detects motion, it will follow the motion, periodically zooming in on the object to get a more detailed view.
Recording
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Most input on PTZ cameras is recorded for future playback and can be saved to a DVD for court evidence or archival.
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References
- Photo Credit surveillance image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
