Just one of the many ideas I sketch out -  this one just made it to Behance because I cannot stop drawing this funny looking spaceship thing. It started as an idea for a safety light for traffic stops to help keep vehicles from harming anyone on the side of the road and then it began to grow into audio/video device. I am now sharing these sketches as I think it just may be viable idea after all.

The actual design far from final - just a work in progress to help explain

a concept. It clearly takes some inspiration from a certain spaceship named the 

Jupiter 2, from one of my favorite shows as a kid. Either way, it is just a start. 

I will update this project as it develops. I just wanted to share in hopes this triggers stronger ideas and good discussion from other designers on the possibilities of creating something like this.

Using existing and emerging audio and video technology, I would like to help create a mechanism of safety to ease the social tension directed towards each other and our public safety personnel.

There are different levels of safety and needs for the General Public and our Public Safety Departments. Some examples would be: 

• Vehicle safety while off to the side of the road with highway traffic stops

• Routine emergency 911 calls that can often escalate depending on situation

• Overall accountability and safety for everyone

As Americans, we are seeing far too many altercations and unfortunate situations between public safety and the public almost daily on our local news and social media sites. The general public is apprehensive, frightened and worried about interactions with law enforcement in particular now, and for our future. Socially and politically, these are uncertain times that can require an extra set of impartial eyes to help watch over us all.

Currently, a new piece of equipment for identifying and documenting situations has been a dash or body cam for our public safety employees. Used as a safeguard and measurement tool to hold the public and safety personnel accountable in these sometimes stressful situations.

A fact is, cameras do not lie. Cameras can capture true events in real time. Cell phone and police body and dash cameras that are not always the ideal fit for the situation - seemingly recording one-sided events with poor quality, and without being able to see or hear the entire situation or story. I believe the technology exists out there that can help everyone feel just a bit more safe and at ease in these situations.

Introducing the Sentry Camera System. Using a blend of existing technologies, a Sentry Camera System could be installed within the existing lighting system on emergency vehicles (future systems could be for public use as well). 

This System would include a stationary, 360º tracking camera installed directly into the vehicle as well as a wearable watch/heart monitor-health meter/tracking component/microphone/RFID unit worn by an emergency responder on their wrist. 

A few things happen when the emergency responder wearing the wrist tracking  component exits the vehicle. First, the Sentry becomes active, while activating the safety light and camera it will extend itself vertically over the roof of the vehicle and starts recording audio and video - both to the vehicles hard drive as well as sending
a live feed back to Dispatch. Meanwhile, back at headquarters, dispatch personnel can hear and view the situation as well as monitor the officers vitals via the wrist component.

This feature filled system would include several safety technologies:

In addition to recording 360º area surrounding the emergency vehicle, the camera is tracked to the responders RFID unit worn by the individual on their wrist. In addition to monitoring the wearers vitals, the unit can also record audio and visual surroundings and also has a 360º safety light feature that helps illuminate a traffic stop to help keep everyone safe, tracking the entire area via live camera with a direct feed to dispatch.

The camera is equipped with a 360º safety light that is incorporated underneath the camera mount with an actuator to allow it to sit approximately 1 ft or more above the emergency vehicle. In Strobe mode ... the camera lighting "rotates" around the unit to help notify surrounding traffic and public that there is a emergency stop in progress and to stay the safe distance away. 

In Sentry mode, the lights illuminate the entire area around the emergency vehicle (this mode is most appropriate at night) to allow for safe 360º vision for both the responders, camera recording and dispatcher. (The Sentry mode could light up the area with an approximate 25' radius of visible surroundings.)

Not only is the System lighting and recording the safety responder and the area for safety, it is also sending a live feed directly back to dispatch for monitoring during a call. A live feed can help keep everyone safe and save time and potentially lives based on an unfolding emergency situation.

*Proof of concept artwork (still in progress) shows main camera housing that can be used with several different cameras and options

*The concept is loosely based on a blend of technologies such as: Soloshot, Hero camera, 360fly, BlackVue HD, and basic RFID/Location based tracking

I am currently refining the concept and idea and using several different technologies developing a working prototype using 3D printing, Arduino software, hardware and actuators as a personal project of my own

To be continued ...