Reconfigurable surveillance apparatus and associated method

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of cameras in the housing, each of the cameras being configured to capture image data of a portion of a scene external to the housing;

an attitude detector configured to detect an orientation of the housing and produce an orientation signal that is representative of an orientation of the apparatus;

a transmitter disposed within the housing, the transmitter being configured to transmit the image data and the orientation signal to a station disposed remotely from the scene;

a plurality of hoops encircling the housing wherein one or more of the hoops serves as an antenna system for the transmitter; and

further comprising at least one of:

a receiver configured to receive signals from the remotely disposed station:

a self-destruction device connected to a receiver triggered by a signal from the remote station to destroy the apparatus; and

a two-wag speakerphone to enable communication with occupants in the scene.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cameras comprise:

video cameras, each including a 90° field of view and each oriented in a different direction with respect to the housing to provide 360° coverage of the scene.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the attitude detector comprises: first and second 3-axis accelerometers having different sensitivities.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:

the first 3-axis accelerometer distinguishes acceleration resulting from propelling the housing from lower accelerations that occur when the housing is being handled; and the second 3-axis accelerometer detects the force of gravity.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a motion sensor configured to actuate the cameras to capture the image data upon detection of motion in the scene.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a communications link between the transmitter and another apparatus for relaying the image data to the remote station.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of cameras in the housing, each of the cameras being configured to capture image data of a portion of a scene external to the housing;

an accelerometer;

a light source for illuminating the scene;

a processor configured to initiate a flash from the light source in response to a signal from the accelerometer, the processor receiving the image data and the orientation signal and producing a panoramic mosaic image showing the scene as it would appear if the cameras were in a predetermined orientation;

a transmitter disposed within the housing, the transmitter being configured to transmit the panoramic mosaic image to a station disposed remotely from the scene; and

further comprising at least one of:

a receiver configured to receive signals from the remotely disposed station;

a self-destruction device connected to a receiver triggered by a signal from the remote station to destroy the apparatus; and

a two-way speakerphone to enable communication with occupants in the scene.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the cameras comprise:

video cameras, each including a 90° field of view and each oriented in a different direction with respect to the housing to provide 360° coverage of the scene.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the attitude detector comprises:

first and second 3-axis accelerometers having different sensitivities.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the first 3-axis accelerometer distinguishes acceleration resulting from propelling the housing from lower accelerations that occur when the housing is being handled; and the second 3-axis accelerometer detects the force of gravity.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising: a plurality of hoops encircling the housing wherein one or more of the hoops serves as an antenna system for the transmitter and/or the receiver.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising: a communications link between the transmitter and another apparatus for relaying the image data to the remote station.

13. A method of viewing a scene from a station disposed remotely thereto, said method comprising:

propelling a monitoring apparatus into an area of interest, the monitoring apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an accelerometer;

a light source for illuminating the scene;

a plurality of cameras in the housing, each of the cameras configured to capture image data of a portion of a scene external to the housing;

an attitude detector configured to detect an orientation of the housing and produce an orientation signal that is representative of an orientation of the apparatus;

a processor configured to initiate a flash from the light source at a predetermined time after the monitoring apparatus breaks a window, or strikes a wall or floor; and

a transmitter disposed within the housing, the transmitter being adapted to transmit the image data to a station disposed remotely from the scene;

using the image data from the cameras and the orientation signal from the attitude detector to construct a panoramic mosaic image showing the scene as it would appear if the cameras were in a predetermined orientation; and

viewing the panoramic image at a station remote from the area of interest.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of using the image data from the cameras and an orientation signal from the attitude detector to construct a panoramic mosaic image showing the scene as it would appear if the cameras were in a predetermined orientation is performed in a processor in the monitoring apparatus.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of using the image data from the cameras and an orientation signal from the attitude detector to construct a panoramic mosaic image showing the scene as it would appear if the cameras were in a predetermined orientation is performed in a processor in the remote station.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the monitoring apparatus includes a communications relay, and the method further comprises: using additional monitoring apparatus to communicate with the communications relay to enable perimeter monitoring.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the attitude detector comprises first and second 3-axis accelerometers having different sensitivities.