Take the tube

First there were static cameras, then there were dome cameras, now there are mobile cameras. All three have their place in today’s CCTV installation market.

Static cameras are ideal to secure entrances and exits where a cost effective, passive solution is required without the need for operators.

Dome cameras have proved successful in secure areas requiring multiple views and are most effective with operators. The subjects in view, however, are often aware of the cameras and it is still easy for them to hide or move from the covered area.

Mobile cameras that travel back and forth within a tube are ideal to secure large areas and multi-aisles. They are most effective when used by operators; up to one hundred per cent coverage can be achieved … with no hiding places.

Imagine tracking suspects using only the one camera that is able to travel at speeds up to six metres per second complete with full pan, tilt and zoom functions. There’s no need to keep switching from camera to camera, losing the continual evidence required for prosecution.

Well-trained, experienced camera operators can usually spot potential suspects the moment they enter the premises. The mobile tube camera system allows the operator to continually keep the suspect under surveillance wherever they go.

Your customers’ own staff can also be observed. They will be unaware they are being watched (even if they know there is a system in place), because the camera is hidden behind an anti-glare, mirrored film.

It has a silent DC motor so the camera can neither be seen nor heard. Its exact location within the tube remains unknown - a big deterrent. When not in use by an operator, the camera can be parked at a particular location or set to a pre-programmed patrol to tour pre-set locations.

Alarm input/outputs are available and can be linked to the intruder/fire alarm panel, and upon activation the camera will automatically travel to a pre-set position.

The camera can also be linked to the alarm-receiving centre (ARC) and be operated remotely to investigate the premises upon activation. Security managers via the internet or RF with priority controls can also remotely operate it.

Duck the ‘steam train’ camera

Mobile cameras were first introduced in 1984 … coincidentally the year of George Orwell’s “Big Brother is watching you”.

Twenty years on, and how they have developed. When mobile camera systems were first introduced,they would chug around the track like an old steam train. People would often be so startled they would duck as they passed overhead.

These early systems had multi-track connections, which regularly came apart as the carriage passed over them. A large recoiling drum was employed at the end of the track for the video power and telemetry to the carriage. This proved unreliable, as it often tended to snag.

Back in 1984 the standard installation was static cameras and installers were only just coming to terms with dome cameras. Mobile cameras were therefore considered, in concept perhaps, as the way forward. But these early versions were looked upon as noisy, expensive to maintain and very unreliable.

Manufacturers looked to improve their systems by overcoming the multi track connections and noise factor of the recoiling drum. Radio frequency (RF) was tried with varying degrees of success; it is difficult enough trying to maintain a (RF) stationary tagging system because of interference, so imagine the problems encountered when using a mainly metal travelling camera within mainly metal construction of the modern retail, industrial and commercial buildings of today.

Further developments were required. Soldered copper pipe was introduced in some systems, whereas others persisted with RF. It was the introduction of a continuous copper strip throughout the length of the profile, for the power and telemetry, that solved the jointing issues of one manufacturer.

This made the system reliable and noise free. The biggest leap, however, was the introduction of laser technology for the video signal, making the system completely cable free. This development enabled perfect video transmission regardless of the length or environment, and now completely unshackled, the mobile tube camera has emerged into a reliable, silent, sleek, fast moving shuttle.

The mobile tube camera has also become much smaller in size. The latest versions are as small as 17cm in diameter. New functions are being added continually, like on-screen location display with text overlay. This enables the operator to know the position of the shuttle within the tube.

Because they are now extremely reliable and inexpensive to maintain, there has been a much faster and wider take up by the same people who first thought they were the way forward, but were worried with the early versions.

Mobile tube cameras have been continually developing over the last twenty years, and during this time one manufacturer has achieved over two hundred systems installed across sites throughout the UK, and over one hundred miles in total length throughout Europe.

Further developments have lead to an external version now being available.

The problem with CCTV

People who set out to steal, damage, harm, and generally misbehave are becoming more skilled in their approaches. They have greater awareness of the locations of camera systems that are presently in place. They therefore have greater knowledge of how the systems operate; this means they are better equipped to achieve their goal.

Over the last decade there have been an increased number of surveillance cameras installed. Instead of deterring these people, the cameras provide a clear indication of what is being watched and what is not. This increases the risk in other areas. These people do not operate under a static camera or dome camera that they can see. This only transfers the problem from the perceived high-risk area to a non-protected area, rendering the cameras an expensive and ineffective decoration.

Tube cameras success story

Mobile tube cameras have proved especially successful in superstores, with their large area multi-aisle layout.

One of the large supermarket chains covered high-risk areas only and used a mixture of static and domes cameras. They then discovered that customers were putting high value items in their trolleys and taking these items to the clothing section that had high rails and many hidden areas.

They then used this area to conceal the items in their bags, clothing, buggies etc, because they knew that existing camera systems could not see them.

The tube camera was first implemented above the clothing section, giving virtually one hundred per cent coverage of the area. This had previously been very difficult to secure.

The shoplifters were now unaware they were on CCTV, due to the tube camera being so discreet, and good, continual evidence led to many arrests. It proved so successful that they now install a tube camera above the checkouts and down the main aisle of the store, giving virtually one hundred per cent coverage of the entire sales area from just three cameras.

The tube camera above the checkouts allows surveillance of all the checkout tills rather than a limited number due to the expense of multiple cameras. In multiple camera installations, unscrupulous staff soon realise, for example, tills 5, 6, and 7 are covered by CCTV and don’t do anything untoward when put on these tills, but continue when sited at others.

With the tube camera they may or may not be aware of the system. If they are aware, they still won’t know whether or not it is watching them. Once security operators start using tube cameras, they are often so enthusiastic with their success rates that they become the driving force to their managers for the introduction of more tube cameras.

With mobile tube cameras the coverage is greatly increased, making it much harder to conceal actions and therefore much easier to detect. Retailers, especially supermarkets and distribution centres, have proved to be the largest marketplace with their large area/multi-aisles. Other installations have been in airports, bus stations, car parks, Customs and Excise, data/call centres, docks, factories, high risk/high value areas, stadia, train stations and warehouses.