The Z3-Q603-RPS encoder board runs under Linux on Qualcomm’s quad-core QCS603 and encodes up to 4K H.265 / HEVC and H.264 video with micro-HDMI input / output, composite -Input, GbE, COM and KEL ports for Sony 4K and LVDS HD cameras.
The last time we tested Z3 technology was in 2013 when the Lincoln, Nebraska-based company released a Z3-DM8168-APP-3x video transcoding subsystem based on a TI DaVinci- SoC based. The company offers a variety of camera solutions, video encoding boards, and “Zeus” video encoding systems that run Linux on low-end Arm SoCs. Z3 broke with its tradition of not disclosing the various Cortex-A8 or -A9-based processors in its products when it launched the Z3-Q603-RPS, the one above the AI-enabled quad-core QCS603 Camera SoC from Qualcomm.
The 50 x 40 x 38 mm Z3-Q603-RPS boardset, which apparently includes 3x PCBs, integrates on-board connections for embedded cameras and enables up to 4K H.265 / HEVC, H.264 and MJPEG Coding. The encoder system is also touted for its low latency, multi-stream support, Zizi feeder support, and Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) capability.
Z3-Q603-RPS
(Click to enlarge the image)
Applications for the battery powered system include UAVs, drones, inspection equipment, medical diagnostics, remote monitoring and security, video conferencing, and other embedded video streaming and recording jobs. The encoder supports “ruggedized embedded video applications” [that] require video with timestamp or GPS coordinates or in a UAV environment where the camera must be remotely controlled via IP, ”said Aaron Caldwell, CEO of Z3.
The Z3-Q603-RPS can input video via micro-HDMI 1.4 (with audio), composite and two micro-coaxial KEL inputs: one for an LVDS HD camera and one for a Sony up to 4Kp30 camera. The following Sony quote mentions support for two of Sony’s industrial zoom block cameras. One is an FCB-EW9500H up to 2160p60 with a 4.17 megapixel Starvis CMOS type 1 / 1.8 sensor and support for 30x optical zoom. There is also a 2.1 MP, 1080p60 FCB-EV9500M camera with 30x zoom. The quote says the cameras can go to 50x zoom:
“The new Z3 encoder ideally takes advantage of the latest Sony industrial zoom camera blocks, including the new FCB-EW9500H and FCB-EV9500M units, and offers up to 50x improved optical zoom with sophisticated, multi-axis image stabilization,” said John Monti, Director of Visual Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics.
Z3-Q603-RPS block diagram (left) and optional Sony FCB-EW9500H
(click on pictures to enlarge)
Qualcomm’s QCS603 SoC, which we saw on Microsoft’s 8MP, 4K Vision AI Developer Kit, includes 2x 1.7 GHz and 2x 1.6 GHz Cortex-A55-like Kryo 300 CPU cores. The SoC is also equipped with Adreno 615 graphics, a Hexagon 685 DSP with Hexagon Vector Extensions (“HVX”) and a Spectra 270 ISP. All of these chips support the Qualcomm AI Engine, which is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine (NPE) software framework.
No RAM or Flash details were listed for the Z3-Q603-RPS. In addition to a microSD slot, there is an unspecified amount of bootable NAND storage.
The boardset is also equipped with a micro-HDMI 1.4 output, GbE and micro-USB console connections as well as RS-232, RS485 and UART interfaces. You also get 802.11ac with Bluetooth 5.0. It is unclear how one would mount the GPS device mentioned in the Z3 quote.
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Power input options include a USB Type-C port, 12 VDC input, and a 1-cell lithium-ion battery port and charger. The typical power consumption is 5.5 W. The system weighs 43 grams, which can be increased to 81 grams with the optional heat pipe.
A Q603-RPS starter kit includes a power supply, various cables and a Linux SDK that includes U-Boot, root file system, toolchain, and NAND boot and programming support. There is also an HTTP based control interface that allows control of parameters such as resolution, maximum bit rate, GOP and on-the-fly bit rate control.
In addition to the web GUI, the system can be controlled via serial / SSH, an API or ONVIF. The US-made system is said to be compliant with ONVIF Profile S&T and the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The Z3-Q603-RPS that we saw on EENews Embedded offers video output in RTP, RTSP, MPEG-2 TS over UDP, RTMP, TSRTP, MPTS and TS file formats. There is also support for HE-AAC, HEv2-AAC, and AAC-LC audio codecs.
additional Information
No pricing or availability information was provided for the Z3-Q603-RPS. Please visit the Z3 Technology announcement and product page for more information.
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