Securtex International has used embedded Linux to build a rugged DVR (digital video recorder) targeting vehicle surveillance and operator management applications. The MDVR-4120 is optionally available with GPS, WiFi, and cellular networking, and besides surveilling passengers, can be used to “condition”… drivers into safer habits, the company says.

(Click for slightly larger view of MDVR-4120)

The MDVR-4120 devices are housed in locking, rugged, sealed, lightweight cases designed for permanent installation in taxi cabs, police cars, trains, watercraft, and other commercial and civil fleet vehicles. A docking cradle is also available for applications requiring semi-permanent installations.

The MDVR-4120 features a locking case

The MDVR-4120 can operate in wide-ranging temperatures extremes from -20 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the company says. It comes with a “mobile-certified” 3.5-inch hard drive sized from 20GB to 100GB, depending on the model, and formated with a FAT32 filesystem.

The DVR supports up to four NTSC or PAL cameras, and can simultaneously record up to four synchronized CIF (352 x 288) or HD1 (704 x 288) resolution video streams, along with four audio streams.

For playback, the device can be attached to up to two 704 x 576 TV monitors, and/or to a 720 x 576 VGA monitor. The primary user interface is an infrared remote control device with an onscreen display. Supported playback speeds include 4x, 2x, 1/2x, and 1/4x.

Additionally, the device supports up to nine alarm sensors, and offers RS232 and RS485 serial ports, along with a 10/100 Ethernet port.

The MDVR-4120 is optionally available with a GPS receiver, which can be used to track vehicle routes and speeds. Optional WiFi and GSM/GPRS networking allow remote viewing of live or recorded video. According to Securtex, “when used to its full potential,” the MDVR-4120 will “condition drivers to drive safer and take better care of the vehicles to reduce maintenance expense.”

Securtex President Ted Humphrey adds, “The transportation market is looking for a product that not only visually records what is happening in and around the vehicle, but is also capable of determining where the vehicle went, its speed, and whether the driver was operating the vehicle safely.”

Availability

The MDVR-4120 is available now, in various models featuring harddrive sizes from 20-100GB. Also available are docking stations, for applications requiring semi-permanent installations.

 
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