QuVIS and Rorke Data Team Up for NASA
Posted by Sachin Garg on 28th February 2006 | Permanent Link
Press Release: Rorke Data, a subsidiary of San Jose-based Bell Microproducts, Inc. and QuVIS, the leading provider of hi fidelity high resolution motion imaging technology, announced today that a pairing of complementary solutions are now being used in conjunction with the U.S. Government’s Return to Flight Program. QuVIS servers integrated with Rorke Data’s Galaxy HDX series of High-speed Video Disk Arrays were selected from a broad field of competitors following extensive technology trials and imagery comparisons.
The selection came as a result of NASA’s decision to upgrade the quality and transportability of imagery available for detection and assessment of any launch anomalies related to the space shuttle program. QuVIS servers were initially chosen for some of NASA’s “quick look” and tracker applications. The QuVIS servers paired with Rorke Data’s Galaxy storage arrays and high definition cameras were installed to shoot video of NASA spacecraft (including the Space Shuttle fleet) before, during and after the launches.
To find the solution that best addressed their demand for image quality, NASA evaluated a wide range of compressed and uncompressed systems before selecting the solutions from QuVIS and Rorke Data.
“Our main requirement was to maintain image integrity within a limited bandwidth environment,” explained Rodney Grubbs, Chairman, NASA DTV Working Group. “Our image analysts found no significant difference between uncompressed files and files using wavelet compression with a QuVIS recorder.”
“Rorke Data has been a partner for QuVIS for several years now,” James Graham, VP of Sales and Marketing, QuVIS, Inc. added. “Their latest Galaxy HDX was excellent in providing a cost-effective, scalable storage option with the bandwidth necessary to handle HD-quality video.”
To adequately capture images of the shuttle during takeoff, special enclosures on the launch pad hold the HD cameras, and are then connected to the QuVIS servers. Additional tracking cameras located downrange from the launch are also linked to QuVIS servers to capture images of the vehicles in flight. The data from these servers is then electronically transferred from the field to image analysis centers in Alabama, Florida and Texas where the content is stored to Rorke’s Galaxy HDX systems.
“The Galaxy HDX has been installed in thousands of high resolution, mission critical HD and video applications where low cost per gigabyte and high capacity are required,” said Joe Rorke, VP of Marketing and Business Development for Rorke Data. “Combined with the QuVIS servers, this turnkey solution provides clients like NASA with the high-performance and quality high definition video that the application demands.”
Secure electronic transfer reduces the time necessary to provide this “quick look” imagery from the air and land-based servers to the image analysis labs. QuVIS utilizes “Quality Priority Encoding,” to guarantee image quality — allowing users to capture exactly what the camera provides, while storing it in a fraction of the space. The QuVIS/Rorke Data solution is replacing NASA’s older tape-based technology.