QUICKSET APRIL/MAY 2006 NEWSLETTER

• >From the President
• The UNICOM Controller
• Knox Introduces New Family of Scalers and Down Converters at INFOCOMM
• QuickSet Goes to Africa
• Spotlight on Steve Wyatt

From the President
For the past few years, QuickSet has experienced increasing pressure to provide more fully integrated systems based on our legacy positioning products. Responding to demand, we have been restructuring and adding staff to deal with complex projects; see the article introducing Steve Wyatt. This enhanced capability has not been publicized, but will become more visible next month with our entirely new website. QuickSet has been expanding its plug-and-play product base to included video routing and formatting (Knox Video Technologies), system controllers, embedded camera controls, and higher-precision mounts for increasingly hostile environments. Internal research and development is proceeding at a record pace with many new products scheduled for release in the near future. Under customer-funded R&D, we are developing a fully stabilized (launch on the move) missile launch platform. This technology will be available in our other platform products later this year. These are exciting times for QuickSet with growth exceeding 30 percent year-over-year yielding both vertical and horizontal product expansion. Our orientation is always centered on the customer and our evolution reflects this. Last year, we doubled the size of our service department and elevated it to the executive staff level. Our engineering staff has more than doubled with primary emphasis on software and electronics, as motion and video control architectures have become more automated and complex.…..

The UNICOM Controller
The UNICOM™ Controller is a versatile QuickSet Pan and Tilt controller that allows full feature control of the pan and tilt as well as typical camera and lens, laser range finder, laser illuminator, laser designator and other serial and Ethernet controlled sensors and active devices. This microprocessor based joystick controller and touch screen interface provides a means to control not only QuickSet pan and tilt positioners, but a variety of sensors (visible and IR cameras, lenses (zoom, focus and iris), video, serial control and data switches. Essentially all components of a complete End-to-End Security / Safety Surveillance System can be controlled with this tabletop or rack mountable joystick controller.

The basis for the design was driven by the need to provide a variety of control interfaces including four RS-232 / RS-422 serial data ports, two USB, one 10/100 Base T Ethernet ports. One USB port can be used for the touch screen interface control. The Ethernet port output can be used for IP networked systems including networked pan and tilt nodes, video matrix switches, etc. The four RS-232 serial control ports allow control of up to four pan and tilt nodes each with a full array of sensors and active devices.

The tactile rocker zoom, focus, and slider iris controls were designed to give a positive and deliberate feel to the control of the camera lenses. Manual and auto control of each is provided.This feature is helpful especially during stressful operations. There are three large, bright 7-segment LED displays to facilitate presentation of pan and tilt azimuth, elevation, and an auxiliary read out for display of other sensor data such as range and bearing.

The touch screen display interface allows higher capacity operations and the ability to control a fully networked video and control data surveillance system. The touch screen interface also provides the means to incorporate Graphical Information System (GIS) aids to manage a networked system of pan and tilt positioners used for surveillance or as demanding as implementation of armament components.

Since its introduction, the UNICOM™ Controller has evolved to include hardened military applications. The application environments include mobile combat and marine vehicles that require vision system, laser range finder and other types of sensor control. The operator pushbutton and joystick control panel is completely sealed to prevent water, sand, and other contaminants from getting inside the unit.

Knox Introduces New Family of Scalers and Down Converters at INFOCOMM.
Knox Video Technologies adds scaling technology to its offerings of reliable audio / video distribution equipment.

Gaithersburg, MD- May 30, 2006 - Knox Video Technologies, a part of QuickSet International, Inc., announces the addition of scaling technology to its growing line of A/V distribution equipment. The first three new products in the scaling family will be introduced at INFOCOMM June 7-9, in Orlando, Florida, at the Knox Video booth #2512.

The new DC-100 allows users to down convert any computer video signal, either PC or Mac, with resolution up to 2048x2048. The output is provided in composite video (either NTSC or PAL), as well as S-video simultaneously. A computer video loop thru is standard. This feature packed machine allows the user to resize and reposition pictures to fit any screen.

Knox’s new VS-100 video scaler upgrades lower level signals such as composite and S-video, up to any HDTV format as high as 1080P, or any computer format as high as 2048x2048 at any refresh rate.
For situations where more features and advanced scaling is necessary, Knox offers the VS-200. This advanced scaling machine offers features such as multiple format inputs with built in 4x1 audio / video switching, picture-in-picture, key mode allowing video to be superimposed on computer graphics and vice versa, automatic picture sizing, and multiple remote control capabilities.

With the cost of HDTV monitors decreasing, more installations are utilizing Plasma and LCD technologies. Typically these monitors have less advanced, built-in scalers that are utilized any time a signal feed other than the monitor’s native resolution is provided. Installations with the Knox Video Scalers eliminate the use of the internal scalers and drastically increase picture quality by feeding the monitor with its native resolution.

All three models are controllable from the front panel, via RS232 serial control, and with the provided handheld remote IR controller. As with all Knox Video products, these items come with a 5 year limited warranty.

Knox Video Technologies also designs and manufactures cost effective, high performance routing switchers from 2x1 up to 256x256 to meet almost every signal routing application.
For more information contact Seth Teates at (301)840-5805 orseth@knoxvideo.com

QuickSet Goes to Africa
When Larry Broutman packed his bags heading for Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park this April, he surely brought his safari hat. But even more important was his trusty Quickset Pan and Tilt. Broutman, a professional photographer working on his second educational media project for the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Regenstein African Journey exhibit, spent much of April photographing the migration of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles. This migration is a constant, cyclical movement between Kenya and Tanzania. It follows the rain and birth cycles, carrying herds south from Kenya into the Serengeti in the springtime. When he arrived, Broutman was greeted by millions of wildebeests, among them the new calves, born just this February. It was a truly awesome sight to see.

While there were many anxious photographers roaming the African plains hoping for the perfect shot, none went about it quite like Broutman. Because of the mostly flat topography of the Serengeti, he thought it would be ideal to have the benefit of elevation in his work. He wanted a 40-foot telescoping mast attached to his truck, allowing for mobility and the unique aerial perspective he sought. He mounted a digital camera atop a pan and tilt, linked to the ground by a video feed that would be his eyes. From the shelter of his truck, Broutman was able to maneuver the camera through an incredible range of shot angles and to capture the still photographs onto his laptop. These photos can be seen as part of the zoo’s African Journey, delighting and educating visitors from all over the world.

Spotlight on Steve Wyatt
Steve Wyatt joined the QuickSet team as the Vice President of Programs on 13 March 2006. He brings with him 24 years of experience in domestic and international government programs ranging from aircraft development to design and test of high-end reconnaissance equipment. Steve started his career in flight test engineering with the United States Air Force at Edwards AFB, California. Afterwards, he moved to McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company in St. Louis developing advanced aircraft concepts for fighter aircraft. From there, he spent the next 16 years designing, testing and building reconnaissance cameras with Recon/Optical, based in the Chicago suburbs. Steve holds a Bachelors of Science degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from California State University.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity to apply my experiences in program management, product development and manufacturing,” says Steve. “QuickSet is a well recognized industry leader in security and surveillance products. Introducing a structured program management process will allow us to employ our expertise to more complex programs.” Steve finds the positive, no-nonsense approach of the QuickSet team invigorating. “Every day has presented challenges, opportunities and successes. The pace is very quick; it’s a fun place to work.”