Vitec’s ruggedised video encoding technology has been integrated into Hyperever’s Proteo quadruped robot to support mission-critical live video streaming in defence, security and critical infrastructure applications.
The Proteo robodog is designed for use in demanding environments, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, explosive ordnance disposal and remote tactical operations. The platform can operate autonomously or semi-autonomously, carry payloads of up to around 35kg, run for up to six hours and reach speeds of approximately 12km/h.
Hyperever selected Vitec’s MGW Pico+ Tough and MGW Diamond Tough encoders to address the limitations of conventional video payloads, including latency, inefficient compression and integration challenges with tactical command and control networks.
The hardware-based encoders support HEVC and H.264 compression, allowing HD and 4K video to be streamed efficiently over tactical networks. Vitec said HEVC can deliver bandwidth savings of up to around 50%, helping maintain video quality in constrained or contested network environments.
The encoders are designed for military and security deployments, with MIL-spec ruggedisation, ultra-low latency performance and support for standard protocols and metadata, including KLV and STANAG processing. This enables the video feed and associated metadata to integrate with existing ISR and command and control architectures.
The integration allows Proteo to operate as a forward reconnaissance asset, sending secure full-motion video from the field to command centres and field operatives in near real time. Video identification overlays and timestamping are also supported to improve operational usability.
Ghassan Dadokh, senior business development manager for security and defence at Vitec, said the project shows how low-latency video expertise can be applied to autonomous robotics.
He added: “Proteo becomes far more than a mobile platform when it can stream secure, high-quality video and metadata directly into existing ISR architectures, turning the robodog into a true forward reconnaissance node.”