Zistos is proud to introduce our new line of pole camera systems that include long poles that telescope out to 20’, 30’, and 40’. These new “Extended Reach” poles are made from carbon fiber, a material that is stronger, lighter, and more rigid than standard aluminum and fiberglass poles. The carbon fiber material offers better control and the enhanced rigidity minimizes bowing, especially when the pole is used in a horizontal orientation. A new lever locking collar mechanism used on our carbon fiber poles allows the user to quickly lock/release the telescoping sections of the pole. While some competing pole designs use only friction to keep the sections extended, our locking collars secure each section for use in a vertical position. The poles are fully compatible with our existing line of interchangeable cameras heads and body worn/portable display devices.
ExplorerSCOPE Can Help Save Lives in Time-critical Search and Rescue Operations
Cameras inserted into 2″ core drilled holes have long been used in USAR operations; however the process of drilling these holes requires time, effort, tools, power, and trained personnel. The Zistos ExplorerSCOPE offers an alternative camera search system that can be inserted into openings as small as 10mm. The self-contained, hand-held ExplorerSCOPE requires less drilling and can even be inserted into existing voids within a rubble pile without any drilling.
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Ready, Set, Go…Zistos Backpack Surveillance Tower A Step Above
With our security needs increasing, especially in remote places, Zistos Corporation can help you with the right application for your remote surveillance equipment needs. Our rapidly deployable surveillance systems are self-powered and offer complete vision solutions that are wireless and easily transported.
Our newest system, The Backpack Surveillance Tower (BST) is a portable, one man battery operated, wireless network surveillance system with a pan-tilt-zoom camera that is mounted on a collapsible four-meter mast. The system facilitates surveillance of a wide area from a high angle of view. The BST deploys quickly from a backpack, which allows one individual to transport it over rough or wooded terrain. The 13 ft. tower unfolds easily from storage and can be setup by a single individual. The pole is stabilized using guy-wires and ground spikes included in the kit. Multiple BST systems can be networked together and can be monitored from a ruggedized laptop computer available with the kit and can also interface with any standard digital device – laptop, tablet, or smartphone – with Wi-Fi capability. Continue reading “Ready, Set, Go…Zistos Backpack Surveillance Tower A Step Above”
Designed specifically for real world operations
The risk of relying on equipment made for best-case scenarios…
This Zistos design philosophy stems from over a decade’s experience and the many lessons learned by our engineers and end users in building portable video inspection systems. As a result, instead of designing for a best-case scenario, Zistos equipment has always been designed to operate in a worst case scenario. In other words we do our best to ensure that, when you really need it, it will work as intended.
Zistos applications include physical security, tactical law enforcement, urban search and rescue, military and industrial inspection. This means rugged and dependable under any conditions. While they may not have the flashy look of some consumer-grade products, our design build, flexibility and reliability make the critical difference when the equipment used must perform in the field.
The Zistos design approach to building its equipment is based on key factors and problem avoidance:
Wireless vs. wired. Many of the wireless video systems on the market utilize analog video transmitters and receivers that are similar in design and performance to inexpensive consumer electronic systems wrapped around high tech looking enclosures. Many of these wireless solutions are of poor quality, easily detected and can be easily intercepted. They are also prone to a multitude of operational problems based on environment. There are many consumer products/technologies that can detect and intercept wireless video transmission. There are even applications for smart phones that can threaten wireless video security. Video signals can easily be detected, acquired, viewed and recorded by outside parties, media and even adversaries. Although we offer wireless as an option, the built-in wired configuration employed by Zistos avoids all of these risks.
Seeing a needle in a haystack
A technical search specialist in a training once remarked that his job was a little like the popular children’s books “Where’s Waldo”; only with life and death consequences. The key, as he stated, is to be able to visually scan a scene with a victim location camera inserted into a void space and identify what seems out of place with the surroundings. This out-of-place visual detail can be key in identifying the presence of a trapped victim.
This is because, in a victim location operation following a building collapse, the technical search specialists rarely have the luxury of discovering a complete human form in the image. Often it is only a small detail or unusual pattern in the visual image that may indicate the presence of a victim. This process can be as difficult as the old saying, “like finding a needle in a haystack”. Collapse rescue–victim location operations can even be described in more challenging language. It can be described as, “like seeing a needle in a haystack” – from 30 feet away! Continue reading “Seeing a needle in a haystack”