Cargo Surveillance System

AD Aerospace’s Cargo Surveillance System monitors the cargo holds in passenger and freighter aircraft. It can operate below deck or on the main deck of freighters and converted passenger aircraft. The cargo surveillance system allows real-time streaming to EFB, Flight Deck Display or dedicated LCD display. The system allows the crew to keep a visual check on cargo loading and unloading, assess progress and perform loading assessments, and to monitor for illegal activity and damage.

The system now proposed utilises AD Aerospace’s ground-breaking and market leading IP/digital 4K Ultra High Definition cameras. The cameras have built in server capability for multiplexing, recording and storage. Also, there is no requirement for extensive additional hardware because the cameras themselves are considered the complete system. The cameras themselves can manage multiple feeds such that multiple feeds can be shown simultaneously on a single device or across multiple devices. Each camera has a minimum of 1TB storage. Additionally, the cameras boast configurable frame rates up to 60 frames per second and have a built in processor for edge AI processing to revolutionise cargo security and operational performance.

Commercial airliner passenger baggage is highly vulnerable to theft. This is particularly the case when being loaded loose in bulk cargo areas. Thefts often occur as bags are transferred onto the aircraft. This is because crews are unsupervised and out of range of security measures within the airport. AD Aerospace can provide a cargo surveillance system within the hold of the aircraft itself. These images can be broadcast to nearby ground security [RD1] or stored locally on the camera. Authorised staff can retrieve date easily via ethernet connection. There is no requirement to physically access the units.

Knowledge that activity is being monitored acts as a deterrent to baggage theft. Surveillance encourages ground staff to take more care. Date, time, camera ID, aircraft tail number and system ID can be labelled on the recorded images. Should an incident occur, watermarking facilities are available to identify the recording as evidence and qualify it for use in court. The standard configuration has the system active only when there is weight on wheels and the baggage hold door is open, using video motion technology to trigger recording.

AD Aerospace provides line-fit cargo surveillance to the Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF). A major airframe OEM has selected AD Aerospace to provide cutting edge cargo surveillance technology for a new widebody freighter program.