Miniaturization Revolution” of Visual System: How to Integrate 4 Perception Capabilities in 280g

In recent years, with the rapid expansion of drone applications in security inspection, emergency response, forestry fire prevention, power operation and maintenance, etc., higher requirements have been placed on the performance and volume of the equipment carried. Especially with the trend of lightweight and portable flight platforms, the demand for “smaller payload, stronger capability” has become an industry consensus. Against this background, an intelligent gimbal camera that weighs only 280 grams but integrates four major visual sensors: wide-angle, telephoto, infrared thermal imaging, and laser ranging has become the focus of industry attention.

This is not only a breakthrough in hardware integration, but also a miniaturization revolution in intelligent perception capabilities. This article will explore how this type of gimbal camera can achieve a perfect balance between lightweight and high performance from three aspects: technical structure, performance, and practical application.

1. From “Multi-Device Stacking” To “Deep Fusion”: The Core Challenge Of Integration Capability

Traditional aerial vision systems are often based on the idea of ​​”multi-sensor splicing” – one thermal imaging camera, one zoom camera, and an external laser rangefinder. As a result, the weight of the whole machine often exceeds 600 g, and even requires independent power supply and stabilization mechanism, which not only increases flight energy consumption, but also affects the platform’s maneuverability and mission time.

With a weight limit of 280 grams, it is necessary to simultaneously complete:

48 million pixel wide-angle image acquisition;

Long-distance observation with a maximum optical zoom of 11 times;

All-weather recognition of 640×512 thermal imaging;

Laser ranging up to 1,200 meters;

This means that the ultimate system optimization must be achieved in multiple levels such as optical structure, circuit layout, heat dissipation layout, and image fusion algorithm.

The key is: not only to “put it down”, but also to “connect it”. Data from different perspectives and different bands need to complete image alignment, algorithm fusion and target recognition in a very short time. Especially in dynamic tasks (such as tracking moving targets), the “cooperation” ability of various sensors directly determines the success of the task.

2. “Small Size, Big Computing Power”: How 6tops Ai Edge Computing Supports Intelligent Recognition

The core of the intelligent vision system is not only to see far and see clearly, but also to understand and make decisions. The reason why this integrated system can perform well in the air is largely due to its built-in 6TOPS edge AI computing platform.

TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) is an important indicator for measuring the computing power of AI chips. 6TOPS means that 6 trillion operations can be completed per second. This computing power is enough to complete computing-intensive tasks such as target detection, intelligent tracking, vehicle and human recognition in real time on terminal devices.

For example, in forest search and rescue missions, the system can lock the abnormal body temperature area in the infrared thermal imaging screen in real time and automatically determine whether it is a suspected life form; in urban security, it can perform edge recognition and continuous tracking of long-distance vehicle targets based on zoom images, without the need to return to the ground AI server, greatly reducing latency and network dependence.

In other words, this edge intelligence capability makes this type of micro-vision system not only an “eye” but also a “front-end brain”.

3. Actual Performance: Application Value In Multiple Scenarios

The K40T gimbal camera has demonstrated extremely high adaptability and practicality in multiple typical industry scenarios.

1. Public security patrol and target locking

In tasks such as urban counterterrorism and border control, targets are often in a high-speed moving state. Traditional cameras are difficult to balance recognition accuracy and response speed, while gimbal devices with integrated zoom + AI tracking can accurately identify targets at high altitudes and dynamically adjust the focal length to achieve tracking effects without losing focus or missing the target.

More importantly, its highly sensitive infrared module supports day and night operations, especially in locking suspects or vehicles at night, and can provide heat source recognition capabilities that traditional cameras cannot match.

2. Forest fire prevention and fire point warning

In forest patrol tasks, infrared thermal imaging can capture weak heat sources over a large area, even a cluster of newly emerging flames or an illegal logging equipment that is being started. Laser rangefinders can quickly obtain the relative position of heat sources, provide accurate coordinates for ground processing personnel, and greatly improve response efficiency.

3. Inspection of power and water conservancy facilities

In the high-altitude inspection of high-voltage transmission towers or dam structures, zoom cameras can complete the preliminary identification of component cracks and abnormal heat consumption at a safe distance, while infrared and laser ranging can further verify the location and status of the problem area, achieving “long-distance, non-contact, zero-risk” efficient operations.

4. Lightweight Is Not a Compromise, But The Evolution Of Integrated Thinking

Many people assume that performance compromises when they mention “miniaturization”, but this type of visual system breaks this perception with actual performance: small size does not mean weak function, and light weight can also have heavy capabilities.

From structural integration, computing power optimization to algorithm fusion, this type of equipment represents a directional trend of “integrated intelligent perception platform”, which no longer requires redundant module stacking and no longer relies on complex post-processing processes.

In the future, drones will perform tasks in more complex and dynamic environments, and this type of “light and smart” visual system will be one of the key payloads to achieve full coverage and all-weather operations.

5. Conclusion

Behind the 280 grams is the multiple collaboration of structural engineering, circuit design, artificial intelligence and industrial manufacturing, which is a real “miniaturization revolution”. It not only lowers the threshold of drone payload, but also opens up a new dimension of intelligent aerial operations.

For industry users who pursue high performance and high flexibility, choosing this type of system is no longer a compromise on performance, but an active transition to future intelligent inspection and aerial perception.