Hawk (HAWC)

Tetracam's Smart Handheld Wireless Camera for Data Collection, UV, NDVI, Time Lapse Photography


Overview
Software Features
System Specifications
Live View Screen
Macaw Macaw Thermal Auk Hawk ILS ADC Micro ADC Snap Single Band/UV µ-MCA RGB+3







Overview

The HAWC (codename Hawk) is an entry level low priced camera for agricultural applications; it is the successor to the handheld legacy ADC system. The Hawk features an integrated ILS measurement system for down-welling radiation that can be used to generate accurate reflectance data for the NIR, Red and Green bands. The NIR/R/G image sensor default position is forward facing while the ILS sensors face directly towards the sky. The image sensor may also face down for calibration and aerial purposes.

The unit is based on the “smart camera” Linux controller technology first introduced in our MCAW cameras. It features a user friendly browser interface, and a variety of Linux interfacing options available from the wireless interface. Files can be downloaded with a browser button or via a Samba network connection using a File Explorer. Smart NDVI processing is available in the camera and the options to customize it are numerous.

The Hawk is a handheld system based on the fact that it has a touchscreen, live view, physical Take Picture button, a stylus, and an intuitive touchscreen interface. On first power up of the Hawk, the live view screen is active, and a picture may be taken with the Take Picture button. RGB and vegetation index extractions may be done in the camera; this feature is enabled by the default. Pictures may be reviewed using the touchscreen; accordingly, vegetation indices such as NDVI may be analyzed.

The camera may be powered up using a 9 volt battery or AC adapter. Once one of these power methods is used, simply pressing on the on/off switch on the Hawk housing will turn on the system. Notably, it can run on any input voltage from 6 to 30 volts DC. Image storage memory is 16 GB by default, but the unit can optionally be configured with 48 GB of capture memory.

The image sensor is configured for 2 megapixel image capture, with NIR, Red, Green bayer pattern filtration. Image capture time is 1 second per frame.


Software Features

The camera is capable of smart NDVI processing; in other words, it can perform extractions of NDVI images and false color RGB images as background tasks while images are being acquired, eliminating the need for post processing prior to generating a mosaic. Image capture can be automatic, based on GPS offset or time delay, or triggered, from the serial port or Take Picture logic signal.

A GPS listener on the serial port allows GPS data to be appended to the images as metadata. The unit interfaces to the Tetracam PixelWrench and Log Distiller utilities for batch processing of the captured data.


Live View Screen



The default screen is live view mode so that a picture can be framed, taken, and saved. From the live view screen the user can access the TOOLS screen or the REVIEW screen. The TOOLS screen is used to manage the camera, the REVIEW screen allows captured pictures to be displayed.

With the live view screen being the default mode for the Hawk, users will always know exactly what picture they will receive when they press the Take Pic physical button located on the top of the housing. This setup is perfect for users operating the system based on individual picture taking. When users are done taking pictures for the day, they can click the REVIEW button, and view their false color NIR/R/G RGB images as well as extractions such as NDVI.


System Specifications

-->
Power120ma at 12 volts, 6 to 30 volt input
Weight250 grams or 290 grams with battery
EnvironmentalCommercial Temperature / Humidity Ranges
Temperature0 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit to 104 degrees Fahrenheit)
HumidityLess than 85% relative humidity, noncondensing
Data StorageMicro SD memory card, up to 48G
Included SoftwarePixelWrench2 image processor
Host InterfaceIeee80211 wireless and USB 2 networking
Command / ControlRS232 I/O for reports measurements
Auto trigger mode (continuous capture, GPS offset)
Web browser display and user interface
PerformanceOne second image capture rate
Four built in band measurement filters


Smart NDVI cameras are multispectral cameras for precision agriculture that can calculate vegetation indices and create false color NDVI images without the use of an image processing program accessory.


Precision Farming and Forestry need multispectral camera and NDVI camera images to create orthomosaic maps that allow interventions to be optimized. NDVI phenocameras that can perform time lapse photography are best for slow growing flora, while faster growing commercial harvests are best served by airborne NDVI mapping cameras.