Image Stabilization for Body- Worn Cameras

Abstract: Body-worn cameras are cameras that are used by law enforcement and other personnel and act as mobile surveillance and information gathering. When these cameras are worn they can be subjected to a lot of movements and thereby the image captured can be shaky and of poor quality. The purpose of this thesis is to explore, understand and find improvements in the image stabilization of the Axis body-worn camera. The method that was used as a foundation for the thesis was a combination of Ulrich and Eppinger’s Product development and the Double diamond method. Information was collected externally and internally. Information that was collected within the company was done so by several interviews in different stages. Different tests were conducted in order to get a fuller understanding of the problem and customer insights were gathered. The movements that affected the image stability were mainly around the camera’s own axis. Three parts that affected the stabilization were recognized: the mounting, the fixture, and the camera itself. The thesis was limited by looking for a new alternative to the most used mounting solution. A solution was proposed and conceptually evaluated as changing the magnetic mounting alternative to an improved one with a bigger surface area in contact with the body to reduce axial movements, A change of the fixture to one with more fastening points, and making closer contact with the camera and mounting solution, The third was to implement a gimbal solution to the camera itself which could compensate for the movements that remain after a stable fixture and mounting were introduced.