Meerkat or Periscope - which application is better for broadcasting videos on the Internet. Meerkat or Periscope - which application is better for broadcasting videos on the Internet Periscope-type programs

PERISCOPE, an optical device that makes it possible to examine objects located in horizontal planes that do not coincide with the horizontal plane of the observer’s eye. It is used on submarines for observing the surface of the sea when the boat is submerged, in the ground army - for safe and inconspicuous observation of the enemy from protected points, in technology - for examining inaccessible internal parts of products. In its simplest form, a periscope consists of a vertical pipe (Fig. 1) with two mirrors S 1 and S 2 inclined at an angle of 45° or prisms with total internal reflection, located parallel to each other at different ends of the pipe and facing each other with their reflective surfaces . However, the periscope reflective system can be designed in different ways. A system of two parallel mirrors (Fig. 2a) gives a direct image, the right and left sides of which are identical to the corresponding sides of the observed object.

A system of two perpendicular mirrors (Fig. 2b) gives a reverse image, and since it is viewed by an observer standing with his back to the object, the right and left sides change their places. Inverting the image and shifting the sides is easy to achieve by placing a refractive prism in the system, but the need to observe with your back to the object, and therefore difficulty in orientation, remains, and therefore the second system is less suitable. The disadvantages of the periscope shown in Fig. 1 and used in trench warfare, are a small angle of view α (about 10-12°) and a small aperture ratio, which forces us to limit ourselves to a length of no more than 1000 mm with a relatively large pipe diameter - up to 330 mm. Therefore, in a periscope, the reflective system is usually associated with a lens system. This is achieved by attaching one or two telescopes to the reflective system of the periscope. Moreover, since a conventional astronomical tube gives a reverse image with displaced sides, the combination of perpendicular mirrors with such a tube will give a direct image with correctly positioned sides. The disadvantage of such a system is the position of the observer with his back to the subject, as mentioned above.

Attaching an astronomical tube to a system of parallel mirrors is also impractical, since the image will turn out upside down, with the sides facing away. Therefore, a periscope usually combines a system of parallel mirrors and an earthly telescope, which gives a direct image. However, installing two astronomical tubes after two inversions will also give a direct image, which is why it is also used in a periscope. In this case, the pipes are positioned with lenses facing each other. The refractive system of a periscope does not present any special features in comparison with a telescope, however, the choice of one or another combination of telescopes (or rather lenses), their number and focal length is determined by the required angle of view and aperture ratio of the periscope. In the best periscopes, image brightness is reduced by ≈30%, depending on the system and type of lens.

Since the clarity of the image also depends on the color of objects, improved visibility is also achieved by using color filters. In the simplest form of a periscope (Fig. 3), the upper lens O 1 gives a real image of the object at point B 1, refracting the rays reflected by the prism P 1. The collecting lens U also creates at point B 2 a real image of the object, which is reflected by the prism P 2 and viewed through the eyepiece O 2 by the eye of the observer. Tubes typically use achromatic lenses and take steps to eliminate other aberration distortions. By installing two telescopes one after the other, operating similarly to the one described above, it is possible to increase the distance between the prisms without compromising the aperture of the periscope and its field of view. The simplest periscope of this type is shown in Fig. 4. Already the first periscopes of this type provided a field of view of 45° and a magnification of 1.6 with an optical length of 5 m and a pipe diameter of 150 mm.

Because observation with one eye is tiring, periscopes were proposed that provide an image on frosted glass, but this image significantly lost in clarity, and therefore the use of frosted glass in periscopes did not become widespread.

The next stage in the development of the idea of ​​periscopes was attempts to eliminate the need to rotate the periscope tube when viewing the horizon 360°. This was achieved by connecting several (up to 8) periscopes on one pipe; the corresponding part of the horizon was examined through each of the eyepieces, and the observer had to walk around the pipe. This kind of multiplier periscopes did not give the whole picture as a whole, and therefore omniscopes were proposed that give the entire horizon in the form of a ring picture by replacing the lens with a spherical refractive surface. This kind of devices, being characterized by considerable complexity, did not provide an increase in the vertical field of view, which interfered with the observation of aircraft, and distorted the image, and therefore fell out of use. More successful was the strengthening of the optical system in the inner tube, which could rotate inside the outer one independently of the latter (Fig. 5).

This kind of panoramic periscope, or kleptoscope, requires some additional optical device. The light beam, penetrating the periscope head through the ball glass cover H, which protects the device from water and does not play an optical role, spreads through the optical system P 1, B 1, B 2, etc., which is fixed in the inner tube J. The latter rotates using a cylindrical gear train, shown at the bottom of the device by handle G, regardless of the outer casing M. In this case, the image falling on the lens B 3, refracted by the prism P 2 and viewed by the eyepiece, will rotate around the light axis of the eyepiece. To avoid this, a quadrangular prism D is fixed inside the inner tube, rotating about a vertical axis using planetary gears K 1, K 2, K 3 at half speed and straightening the image.

The optical essence of the device is clear from Fig. 6, showing how rotating the prism rotates the image at twice the speed. An increase in the field of view in the vertical direction from 30° in a conventional periscope to 90° is achieved in an zenith periscope by installing a prism in the objective part of the device, rotating about a horizontal axis, regardless of the rotation of the entire upper part about a vertical axis to view the horizon. The optical part of a periscope of this type is shown in Fig. 7.

Periscopes are used on submarines for two purposes: observation and control of torpedo fire. Observation may consist of simple orientation in the environment and a more careful examination of individual objects. For observation, objects should be visible in life size. At the same time, it has been practically established that for accurate reproduction with monocular observation of objects that are usually observed binocularly with the naked eye, the magnification of the device must be increased. more than 1.

Currently, all submarine periscopes have a magnification of 1.35-1.50 for easy orientation. For a thorough examination of individual objects, magnification should be used. more, with the maximum possible illumination. Currently, an increase of X 6 is used. Thus. Periscopes have a double requirement regarding the magnification of the device. This requirement is satisfied in bifocal periscopes, the optical part of the lens of which is shown in Fig. 8.

Changing the magnification is achieved by rotating the system 180°, while the lens O 1 and lens K 1 do not move. For greater magnification, use the system V' 1, P" 2, V' 2; for smaller magnification, use the system V 1, P 1, V 2. The appearance of the lower part of the anti-aircraft bifocal periscope is shown in Fig. 9.

The described design for changing magnification is not the only one. More simply, the same goal is achieved by removing excess lenses from the optical axis of the device, mounted in a frame that can be rotated around the axis at will. The latter is designed vertically or horizontally. To find direction of objects, determine their distance, course, speed and to control torpedo firing, periscopes are equipped with special devices. In fig. 10 and 11 show the bottom of the periscope and the observed field of view for a periscope equipped with a vertical base rangefinder.

In fig. Figure 12 shows the field of view of the periscope for determining the distance and heading angle using the alignment principle.

In fig. 13 shows the lower part of a periscope equipped with a photographic camera, and FIG. 14 - lower part of the periscope with a device for controlling torpedo firing.

When the periscope head moves, it causes waves on the surface of the sea, which make it possible to establish the presence of a submarine. To reduce visibility, the head of the periscope is made as small in diameter as possible, which reduces the periscope's aperture and requires overcoming significant optical difficulties. Usually, only the upper part of the pipe is made narrow, gradually widening it downwards. The best modern periscopes, with a tube length of more than 10 m and a diameter of 180 mm, have an upper part about 1 m long with a diameter of only 45 mm. However, experience has now established that the discovery of a submarine is achieved not by detecting the periscope head itself, but by the visibility of its trace on the surface of the sea, which persists for a long time. Therefore, at present, the periscope is protruded above the surface of the sea periodically for a few seconds, necessary for making observations, and is now hidden until it reappears after a certain period of time. The wave formation caused in this case is significantly closer to the usual disturbance of sea water.

The difference in temperature in the pipe and in the environment, combined with air humidity inside the periscope, leads to fogging of the optical system, to eliminate which devices are installed for drying the periscope. An air tube is installed inside the periscope, led into the upper part of the pipe and coming out at the bottom of the periscope. On the other side of the latter, a hole is made from which air is sucked out of the periscope and enters a filter charged with calcium chloride (Fig. 15), after which it is pumped into the upper part of the periscope by an air pump through the inner pipe.

Periscope tubes must meet special requirements for strength and rigidity in order to avoid damage to the optical system; in addition, their material should not affect the magnetic needle, which would disrupt the operation of ship compasses. In addition, the pipes should be especially resistant to corrosion in sea water, because in addition to the destruction of the pipes themselves, the tightness of the connection in the seal through which the periscope extends from the boat’s hull will be disrupted. Finally, the geometric shape of the pipes must be particularly accurate, which, if they are long, creates significant difficulties in production. The usual material for pipes is low-magnetic stainless nickel steel (Germany) or special bronze - immadium (England), which has sufficient elasticity and rigidity.

Strengthening the periscope in the hull of a submarine (Fig. 16) causes difficulties, depending both on the need to prevent sea water from getting between the periscope tube and the hull of the boat, and on the vibration of the latter, which interferes with the clarity of the image. The elimination of these difficulties lies in the design of an oil seal that is sufficiently waterproof and at the same time elastic, securely connected to the hull of the boat. The pipes themselves must have devices for quickly raising and lowering them inside the boat hull, which, with the periscope weighing hundreds of kg, leads to mechanical difficulties and the need to install motors 1, which rotate winches 2, 4 (3 - inclusion for the middle position, 5 - manual drive , 6, 7 - handles for the clutch mechanism). When the tube is raised or lowered, observation becomes impossible because the eyepiece quickly moves vertically. At the same time, the need for observation is especially great when the boat surfaces. To eliminate this, a special platform for the observer is used, connected to the periscope and moving with it. However, this causes overload of the periscope pipes and the need to allocate a special shaft in the ship’s hull to move the observer. Therefore, a stationary periscope system is more often used, allowing the observer to maintain his position and not interrupt his work while moving the periscope.

This system (Fig. 17) separates the ocular and objective parts of the periscope; the first remains stationary, and the second moves vertically with the pipe. To connect them optically, a tetrahedral prism is installed at the bottom of the pipe, etc. the light beam in the periscope of this design is reflected four times, changing its direction. Since the movement of the tube changes the distance between the lower prism and the eyepiece, the latter intercepts the light beam at various points (depending on the position of the tube), which disrupts the optical unity of the system and leads to the need to include another movable lens that regulates the beam rays according to the position of the pipe.

Typically, submarines have at least two periscopes installed. Initially, this was caused by the desire to have a spare device. Currently, when two periscopes of different designs are required - for observation and attack, the periscope used during the attack is at the same time a spare one in case one of them is damaged, which is important for performing the main task - surveillance. Sometimes, in addition to the indicated periscopes, a third, spare one is installed, used exclusively when both main ones are damaged.

Army periscopes are distinguished by greater simplicity of design compared to naval ones, while at the same time maintaining the main features and improvements of the device. Depending on the purpose, their design is different. A conventional trench periscope consists of a wooden pipe with two mirrors (Fig. 1). The design of the periscope tube is more complex, including an optical refractive system, but not distinguished by any special dimensions; such a pipe is usually designed on the principle of a panoramic periscope (Fig. 18).

The dugout periscope (Fig. 19) is similar in design to the simplest type of naval periscope and is intended for making observations from shelters.

A mast periscope is used to observe distant objects or in the forest, replacing inconvenient and bulky towers. It reaches a height of 9-26 m and consists of a mast that serves to strengthen the optical system, mounted inside two short large-diameter pipes. The eyepiece tube is mounted on a carriage at the bottom of the mast, and the objective tube is mounted on the retractable top of the mast. Thus, in this type there are no intermediate lenses, which, despite a significant magnification (up to x 10), with a low mast position causes a decrease in the latter as the mast extends, with a simultaneous decrease in image clarity. The mast is mounted on a special carriage, which also serves to transport the device, and the mast moves. The carriage is quite stable and only in strong winds requires additional fastening with bends. The periscope is successfully used in technology to inspect holes drilled in long forgings (shafts, gun channels, etc.), to check the absence of cavities, cracks, and other defects. The device consists of a mirror located at an angle of 45° to the axis of the channel, mounted on a special frame and connected to the illuminator. The frame moves inside the channel on a special rod and can rotate around the axis of the channel. The telescopic part is mounted separately and is placed outside the forging under study; it serves not to transmit an image, as in an ordinary periscope, but to better view the field of view captured by the periscope.

True fans of online broadcasts know that there are applications similar to Periscope. Some of them were launched before the brainchild of Twitter. The most popular among these programs are those that will be discussed below.

7 facts about Meerkat

Twitch vs Periscope

Despite the general implementation in the field of video streaming, Twitch and Periscope are quite different from each other. The main differences are observed in the following categories:


What is Projector TV?

You can install this analogue of Periscope to access and broadcast streams only within the iOS operating system, and versions eight and higher are supported. Unfortunately, the Russian analogue of Periscope on Android is not yet available and the developer has not yet advertised the implementation of such a version.

In addition, for smartphones that are locked in any country, installation of the program is prohibited.

An obvious advantage of the Periscope analogue on the Russian market is the ability to post the broadcast on the VKontakte wall, and views on this social network are taken into account when compiling the overall popularity rating.

In general, we can say that programs similar to Periscope today cannot be called full-fledged analogues. They are either sold only for owners of apple products, or are tailored for completely different purposes. However, the video broadcast market is just beginning to develop, and perhaps worthy competitors will soon appear among Periscope’s Russian counterparts.

L-3 KEO provides the US Navy with a Universal Modular Mast (UMM) that serves as a lifting mechanism for five different sensors, including the AN/BVS1 optocoupler mast, high-speed data mast, multi-function masts and integrated avionics systems.


Virginia-class attack submarine Missouri with two L-3 KEO AN/BVS-1 photocoupler masts. This class of nuclear submarines was the first to install only optocoupler masts (command and observation) of a non-penetrating type

Advanced optronics (optoelectronics) give non-hull-penetrating mast systems a clear advantage over direct-view periscopes. The development direction of this technology is currently determined by low-profile optronics and new concepts based on non-rotary systems.

Interest in optoelectronic periscopes of a non-penetrating type arose in the 80s of the last century. The developers argued that these systems would increase the flexibility of the submarine's design and its safety. The operational advantages of these systems included displaying the periscope image on multiple crew screens as opposed to older systems where only one person could operate the periscope, simplified operation and increased capabilities, including the Quick Look Round (QLR) feature, which allowed for maximum reduction the time the periscope is on the surface and thereby reduce the vulnerability of the submarine and, as a consequence, the likelihood of its detection by anti-submarine warfare platforms. The importance of the QLR mode has recently increased due to the increasing use of submarines for information collection.

In addition to increasing the flexibility of the submarine's design due to the spatial separation of the control post and optocoupler masts, this makes it possible to improve its ergonomics by freeing up the volume previously occupied by periscopes. Non-penetrating type masts can also be relatively easily reconfigured by installing new systems and implementing new capabilities; they have fewer moving parts, which reduces the life cycle cost of the periscope and, accordingly, the amount of its maintenance, routine and overhaul. Continuous technological progress is helping to reduce the likelihood of periscope detection, and further improvements in this area are associated with the transition to low-profile optocoupler masts.


A conventional Type 212A class anti-submarine submarine of the German Navy displays its masts. These diesel-electric submarines of the Type 212A and Todaro classes, supplied to the German and Italian navies respectively, are distinguished by a combination of masts and penetrating (SERO-400) and non-penetrating types (OMS-110).

Virginia class

In early 2015, the US Navy installed a new low-observable periscope, based on L-3 Communications' Low-Profle Photonics Mast (LPPM) Block 4, on its Virginia-class nuclear submarines. To reduce the likelihood of detection, the company is also working on a thinner version of the current AN/BVS-1 Kollmorgen (currently L-3 KEO) optocoupler mast installed on submarines of the same class.

L-3 Communications announced in May 2015 that its optical-electronic systems division L-3 KEO (in February 2012 L-3 Communications merged KEO, which led to the creation of L-3 KEO) received a competitive award A $48.7 million contract from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for the development and design of the low-profile mast, with an option to produce 29 optocoupler masts over four years, as well as maintenance. The LPPM mast program aims to maintain the characteristics of the current periscope while reducing its size to that of more traditional periscopes, such as the Kollmorgen Type-18 periscope, which began being installed in 1976 on Los Angeles-class nuclear submarines as they entered the fleet.

Although the AN/BVS-1's mast has unique characteristics, it is too large and its shape is unique to the US Navy, allowing the submarine's nationality to be immediately identified when a periscope is detected. Based on publicly available information, the LPPM's mast has the same diameter as a Type-18 periscope, and its appearance resembles the standard shape of that periscope. The modular LPPM non-hull type mast is installed in a universal telescopic modular compartment, which increases the stealth and survivability of submarines.

The system features include short-wave infrared imaging, high-resolution visible imaging, laser ranging and a set of antennas that provide broad coverage of the electromagnetic spectrum. The prototype of the LPPM L-3 KEO optocoupler mast is currently the only operational model; it is installed aboard the Virginia-class submarine Texas, where all subsystems and operational readiness of the new system are tested. The first production mast will be manufactured in 2017, and its installation will begin in 2018. According to L-3 KEO, it plans to design its LPPM so that NAVSEA can install a single mast on new submarines and can also upgrade existing vessels as part of an ongoing improvement program aimed at improving reliability, capability and affordability. An export version of the AN/BVS-1 mast, known as the Model 86, was first sold to a foreign customer under a contract announced in 2000, when the Egyptian Navy contemplated a major upgrade of its four Romeo-class diesel-electric anti-submarine submarines. Another unnamed European customer has also installed the Model 86 on its diesel-electric submarines (DSS).




Periscope systems before installation on a submarine

L-3 KEO, along with the development of LPPM, is already supplying the US Navy with the Universal Modular Mast (UMM). This non-penetrating type mast is installed on Virginia class submarines. The UMM serves as a lifting mechanism for five different sensor systems, including the AN/BVS-1, OE-538 radio tower, high-speed data antenna, mission-specific tower, and integrated avionics antenna tower. KEO received a contract from the US Department of Defense to develop the UMM mast in 1995. In April 2014, L-3 KEO received a $15 million contract to supply 16 UMM masts for installation on several Virginia-class nuclear submarines.

Another UMM customer is the Italian Navy, which also equipped its Todaro class diesel-electric submarines of the first and second batch with this mast; the last two boats were scheduled to be delivered in 2015 and 2016 respectively. L-3 KEO also owns the Italian periscope company Calzoni, which developed the E-UMM (Electronic UMM) electric mast, which eliminated the need for an external hydraulic system for raising and lowering the periscope.

The latest offering from L-3 KEO is the AOS (Attack Optronic System) commander's non-penetrating optronic system. This low profile mast combines the characteristics of the traditional Model 76IR search periscope and the same company's Model 86 optocoupler mast (see above). The mast has reduced visual and radar signatures, weighs 453 kg, and the diameter of the sensor head is only 190 mm. The AOS mast sensor kit includes a laser rangefinder, thermal imager, high-definition camera and low-light camera.


Images from the L-3 KEO AN/BVS-1 optical-electronic mast are displayed at the operator’s workplace. Non-penetrating masts improve the ergonomics of the center post and also increase safety due to the structural integrity of the hull

In the first half of the 90s, the German company Carl Zeiss (now Airbus Defense and Space) began preliminary development of its Optronic Mast System (OMS) optronic mast. The first customer of the serial version of the mast, designated OMS-110, was the South African Navy, which chose this system for three of its Heroine-class diesel-electric submarines, which were delivered in 2005-2008. The Greek Navy also chose the OMS-110 mast for its Papanikolis diesel-electric submarines, followed by South Korea who decided to buy this mast for its Chang Bogo-class diesel-electric submarines. OMS-110 type non-piercing masts have also been installed on the Indian Navy's Shishumar-class submarines and the Portuguese Navy's traditional Tridente-class anti-submarine submarines. One of the latest applications of the OMS-110 was the installation of universal UMM masts (see above) on the Italian Navy Todaro submarines and the German Navy Type 2122 class anti-submarine submarines. These boats will have a combination of an OMS-110 optronic mast and a SERO 400 command periscope (hull penetrating type) from Airbus Defense and Space. The OMS-110 optocoupler mast features dual-axis line-of-sight stabilization, a third-generation mid-wave thermal imaging camera, a high-resolution television camera and an optional eye-safe laser rangefinder. Quick Surround View mode allows you to get a fast, programmable 360-degree panoramic view. It can reportedly be completed by the OMS-110 system in less than three seconds.

Airbus Defense and Security has developed the OMS-200 low profile optocoupler mast, either as an addition to the OMS-110 or as a stand-alone solution. This mast, shown at Defense Security and Equipment International 2013 in London, features improved stealth technology and a compact design. The OMS-200 modular, compact, low-profile, non-penetrating command/search optocoupler mast integrates various sensors into a single housing with a radio-absorbing coating. As a "replacement" for the traditional direct-view periscope, the OMS-200 system is specifically designed to maintain stealth in the visible, infrared and radar spectrums. The OMS-200 optocoupler mast combines three sensors, a high-definition camera, a short-wave thermal imager and an eye-safe laser rangefinder. The high quality, high resolution image from a short wave thermal imager can be complemented by the image from a medium wave thermal imager, especially in poor visibility conditions such as fog or haze. According to the company, the OMS-200 system can combine images into one picture with excellent stabilization.


Sagem has developed and started production of the Series 30 family of command and search masts, which have been ordered by many navies, including the French. The command mast has a low visual profile


The Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines built by DCNS are equipped with a combination of penetrating and non-penetrating masts from Sagem, including a Series 30 mast with four optocoupler sensors: a high-definition camera, a thermal imager, a low-light camera and a laser rangefinder

SERIES 30

At the Euronaval 2014 in Paris, Sagem announced that it has been selected by the South Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) to supply non-penetrating photocoupler masts for the equipment of the new South Korean diesel-electric submarines of the "Son-Won-II" class, for which DSME is the lead contractor. This contract marks the export success of Sagem's latest family of Search Optronic Mast (SOM) Series 30 optocoupler masts. This non-hull-penetrating search optronic mast can simultaneously receive more than four advanced electro-optical channels and a full complement of electronic warfare and Global Positioning System (GPS) antennas; Everything fits in a lightweight sensory container. The Series 30 SOM optronic mast sensors include a high-resolution thermal imager, a high-definition camera, a low-light camera and an eye-safe laser rangefinder. The mast can accept a GPS antenna, an early warning avionics antenna, a direction finding avionics antenna and a communications antenna. Among the operating modes of the system there is a fast all-round viewing mode, with all channels available at the same time. Dual screen digital displays have an intuitive graphical interface.

Sagem has already supplied the Series 30 SOM variant to the French Navy's new Barracuda-class diesel-electric submarines, while another variant has been sold to an as yet unnamed foreign customer. According to Sagem, the Series 30 SOM mast supplied to the South Korean fleet will also include a signals intelligence antenna, as well as optical communications equipment operating in the infrared range. A command variant of the Series 30 SOM, designated Series 30 AOM, is also available; it features a low profile mast and is fully compatible with the Series 30 SOM variant in terms of mechanical, electronic and software interfaces. The same container and cables can be used for both sensor units, allowing fleets to select the optimal configuration for specific applications. The basic set includes a high-resolution thermal imager, a high-resolution television camera, optionally an eye-safe laser rangefinder, a short-wave thermal imager and a day/night backup camera.


Thales has equipped all Astute-class submarines of the British fleet with optocoupler masts with CM010 and CM011 sensor heads. These products represent the basis for promising new series of periscopes

Pilkington Optronics' pedigree dates back to 1917, when its predecessor became the sole supplier to the British Navy. At one time, this company (now part of the Tales company) began proactively developing the CM010 family of optocoupler masts, installing a prototype in 1996 on the British Navy nuclear submarine Trafalgar, after which in 2000 it was selected by BAE Systems to equip new Astute class nuclear submarines. The CM010 twin photocoupler mast was installed on the first three boats. Tales subsequently received contracts to equip the remaining four submarines of the class with CM010 masts in a twin configuration.

The CM010 mast includes a high-definition camera and thermal imager, while the CM011 has a high-definition camera and an image enhancement camera for underwater surveillance, which is not possible with a traditional thermal imager. In accordance with the contract received in 2004, Tales began supplying CM010 masts to the Japanese company Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in May 2007 for installation on the new Japanese diesel-electric submarines “Soryu”. Tales is currently developing a low-profile variant of the CM010 with the same functionality, as well as a sensor package consisting of a high-definition camera, a thermal imager and a low-light camera (or rangefinder). This sensor kit is intended to be used for special tasks or diesel-electric submarines of smaller dimensions. The low-profile ULPV (Ultra-Low Profle Variant), designed for installation on high-tech platforms, is a unit of two sensors (a high-definition camera plus a thermal imager or a camera for low light levels) installed in a low-profile sensor head. Its visual signature is similar to that of a commander's periscope with a diameter of up to 90 mm, but the system is stabilized and has electronic support.


The Japanese diesel-electric submarine Hakuryu, belonging to the Soryu class, is equipped with a Thales CM010 mast. The masts were delivered to the shipyard of Mitsubishi, the main contractor of the Soryu class submarines, for installation on board these submarines

Panoramic mast

The US Navy, the largest operator of modern submarines, is developing periscope technology as part of its Afordable Modular Panoramic Photonics Mast (AMPPM) program. The AMPPM program began in 2009, and as defined by the Office of Naval Research, which oversees the program, its goal is “to develop a new sensor mast for submarines that has high-quality sensors for panoramic search in the visible and infrared spectra, as well as short-wave infrared and hyperspectral sensors for long-range detection and identification.” According to the Office, the AMPPM program should significantly reduce production and maintenance costs through modular design and a fixed bearing. In addition, a significant increase in availability is expected compared to current optocoupler masts. In June 2011, a prototype mast developed by Panavision was selected by the Authority to implement the AMPPM program. First there will be at least two years of testing on land. This will be followed by testing at sea, which is scheduled to begin in 2018. New AMPPM fixed masts with 360-degree visibility will be installed on Virginia-class nuclear submarines.

Materials used:
www2.l-3com.com
www.airbusdefenceandspace.com
www.sagem.com
www.thalesgroup.com
www.navsea.navy.mil
www.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org

With the development of web technologies, a huge number of new applications, sites and games appear. Over the past few years, narrowly targeted social networks (Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and others) have become very popular. Among Internet users, the question of the history of the creation of a fundamentally new social network Periscope remains relevant.

Who created the periscope

Many users of the service know nothing about who invented periscope and why this application has gathered such a large audience in just a matter of months. In 2014, two friends, Kayvon Bikpour and Joe Bernstein, came up with an idea for a new startup: creating a separate service for streaming video in real time from anywhere in the world.

According to the developers themselves, Bikpour was the main creator of Periscope, who thought through the operating principle and future functionality. After drawing up a detailed work plan, the friends developed the software part of the project; at this stage, the main developer of the periscope was Bernstein. The beta version of the program was released in February 2014. At first the project was called Bounty. Thanks to a large-scale advertising campaign, the number of users of the new social network began to grow rapidly and already in April 2014, the service brought its creators $1.5 million in income. However, over time, users began to complain about frequent bugs in the work of Periscope and the lack of quality content.

In January 2015, the owners of the social network Twitter bought the concept and all rights to the Bounty service and renamed it Periscope. Thanks to active promotion on Twitter, Periscope gained even more popularity. The developers temporarily stopped the service to fix existing problems, and already in March 2015, a test version of the application was launched and became available. Two months later, the application was released for devices running on the Android platform.

In August 2015, the official Periscope service Twitter account announced that the number of application users had exceeded 10 million users. This result in the influx of users is a record since the creation of the Snapchat application (a program for instantly sharing photos and video files with selected accounts; in just 5 months of operation, the application’s audience totaled 50 million users).

Application Features

  • the ability to log into Periscope without creating a new account. Your existing Twitter account is used;
  • search for broadcasts that are live around the globe. The application contains a built-in map of the globe, which shows both active and completed user broadcasts;
  • Each user can create personal broadcasts. Completed broadcasts are stored in your profile for only 24 hours; after 24 hours, all videos are permanently deleted. If you want to save broadcasts, the program offers the function of downloading videos to the device gallery.

Periscope analogues

YouTube. The popular video hosting is an analogue of Periscope. On YouTube, you can not only watch and download videos, but also create live broadcasts. However, a large number of users face difficulties in downloading additional software for video streaming. Users can also create ones that have a webcam. With Periscope, you can create live broadcasts directly from your smartphone; no additional software needs to be downloaded.

Meerkat is a periscope-like application that is also designed for video streaming, but Meerkat is only available for Android OS users.

Periscope – discover the whole world

Periscope gained enormous popularity between June and November 2015. Thanks to the huge number of broadcasts, you have every chance to see the events of the desired point on the globe at any second. The creators of Periscope are improving the application and eliminating existing inaccuracies. A report on their activities can be found on the service’s official Twitter page https://twitter.com/periscopecope.