Advanced DVR Technology Aids in Advancement of Science on the International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) draws on the scientific and technological resources of 16 nations, and is the largest and most complex international scientific project in history. Contributors to this major undertaking include some of the leading and most advanced scientific organizations in the world. Among those is Kayser-Threde GmbH, a company specializing in developing and implementing data management solutions for technical and scientific environments, as well as one of the leading innovators of instrument development for space research.

Onboard the ISS earlier this year, Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev successfully conducted fundamental physics experiments with the new Plasma Kristall Experiment 3 Plus (PK-3 Plus) Facility, developed by Kayser-Threde in close cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. PK-3 Plus is being used for investigations in the field of plasma physics, especially in the emerging research discipline in the physics of 'dusty plasma' matter characteristics.

When Kayser-Threde GmbH needed an ultra-compact DVR board to use on the largest space object ever built, they turned to FFV’s Recon. Its small size, robustness, and unrivaled quality made it the best match for the challenge of studying the behavior of physical plasma processes under microgravity conditions.

Since the plasma changes under investigation could not be seen by the naked eye, four analog video cameras were set up as part of the experiment to capture the events, which then could be carefully analyzed later. The video signals, together with a digital housekeeping datastream, were routed over a distance of approximately 10 meters to the data acquisition unit of PK-3 Plus, which housed the four DVRs that recorded the signals.

"On each DVR we recorded one camera signal, as well as the housekeeping signal on one of the audio tracks and the voice of the astronaut/cosmonaut on the other audio track," says Dr. Juergen Burfeindt, project lead for development of the PK-3 Plus. "By using a video switch, we also recorded progressive scan signals from one camera on two DVRs at fifty frames per second at full resolution. The plasma was ignited in a safe metal chamber while the cameras recorded the events through special windows for that purpose. After returning to earth, the video data was examined on a frame-by-frame basis to determine the results."

"Our biggest design challenge was transferring standard analog video to digital video, and then transferring digital video into a format that can be displayed with commercial viewing software and processed for scientific evaluation," says Burfeindt. Explain how Recon was able to accomplish this – up to 200 words .

This is where the features and benefits can be described in details – up to 700 words. FFV’s Recon, measuring only 2.8 inches by 3.9 inches, provides equipment manufacturers with exceptional design flexibility and top quality in the same form factor as notebook ICE/ATA drives. The Recon features a choice of either pre-assigned GPI inputs or an extensive menu of control and configuration options available through RS-232 or RS-422 control. Based on the same architecture as the award-winning Omega Deck™ DVR, the Recon uses integrated motion JPEG and provides scalable compression to maximize image quality with outstanding 720-by-486-pixel resolution. The recorded video can be played back locally or transferred to a PC in QuickTime format for easy viewing and editing.

Start out with "Working closely with the team at Kayser-Threde, FFV . . . what?" – up to 200 words According to Kayser-Threde, many DVRs were considered. However, FFV’s Recon was found to be the most suitable — in terms of portability, ruggedness, reliability, and quality — for the demands of outer-space research. "The Recon was one of several DVRs we considered, but we chose FFV not only because the product was compact and reliable, but because the company has a professional hotline service with technicians readily available to provide modifications to meet our specific requirements," Burfeindt adds.