RFBIT - VCU H.265 Video Encoders

Low Latency

Video you can
fly on.

An encoder built for recording can afford delay; one feeding an operator who is steering a gimbal or the aircraft cannot. VCU encodes in a low-latency mode, slice by slice, so a frame starts leaving the unit before it has finished arriving.

Clock in front of the camera0.000seconds

The same clock on the operator’s screen0.000seconds

Glass to glass 48 ms

Capture4 ms Encode, slice by slice8 ms Link10 ms Decode9 ms Display17 ms

How glass-to-glass latency is measured: the camera films a running clock, and the clock on the operator’s screen is read against the real one. Illustration at the stated latency; stage times are typical values.

<50 msGlass to Glass

Sub-frameEncoding

CBRLink-Sized Bit Rate

Video Inputs

Whatever the camera
already speaks.

Four analog cameras on BNC, HDMI and DisplayPort sources, GigE Vision cameras on Ethernet and USB3 Vision cameras on USB 3.1, all into one unit. Teledyne FLIR cameras work directly, with nothing to add.

VCU with a thermal core, a Boson and a gimbal camera on BNC, a GigE Vision camera and an IP dome on Ethernet, and a USB3 Vision camera on USB-C

4Analog (BNC)

HDMI · DPDigital

GigE · USBMachine Vision

FLIRSupported Directly

Quad View

Four cameras.
One stream.

On a narrow link, VCU tiles the four analog cameras into one picture and encodes it as a single stream: one bit rate to budget, one stream to record, and every camera in view at once. Any of them can be switched to full frame from the ground.

CH1 · Gimbal EO CH2 · Thermal CH3 · Nose CH4 · Belly

4 → 1Cameras per Stream

1Bit Rate to Budget

LiveSwitch to Full Frame

KLV Metadata

Every frame knows
where it was taken.

VCU inserts MISB ST 0601 KLV metadata into the video stream, as STANAG 4609 asks: the platform’s position and attitude from the autopilot, where the sensor is looking from the gimbal, and a precise time stamp on every frame. Any STANAG 4609 viewer can put the video on a map.

MISB ST 0601 · live

2Precision Time Stamp

5Platform Heading

13Sensor Latitude

14Sensor Longitude

15Sensor True Altitude

16Sensor Horizontal FOV

18Sensor Relative Azimuth

19Sensor Relative Elevation

23Frame Center Latitude

24Frame Center Longitude

Illustrative values

ST 0601MISB KLV

4609STANAG

EveryFrame Time-Stamped

Encrypted Stream

Every stream.
One encrypted link.

VCU multiplexes every encoded stream, the KLV metadata and the platform’s serial data into one transport stream and encrypts it with AES-256 before it leaves the unit. The link carries a single flow on a single port, and only a ground station holding the key can open it.

AES-256Encryption

1Transport Stream

10Sources Inside

IRIG-106 Telemetry

Video over IRIG-106.
Straight into TTS.

Flight test ranges already bring IRIG-106 telemetry down. VCU sizes its transport stream to the TTS data rate and hands it over on one harness, as RS-422 clock and data or over Ethernet, so the video goes down the same L/S-band link as the rest of the flight data and comes out of a TRS-1S at the ground station.

VCU connected to a TTS telemetry transmitter with one harness, an omni antenna on the TTS and a Tau 2 thermal core on BNC

Constant Bit Rate

The stream is padded to an exact, constant rate anywhere from 50 kbit/s to 40 Mbit/s, the range TTS transmits, so the telemetry frame never runs short or overflows.

Chapter 10 Packets

For recorders and ground stations, video and KLV can also leave as IRIG 106 Chapter 10 packets, the format flight-test recorders already read.

One Harness

A single cable from the 51-pin Micro-D to the TTS carries the stream, its clock and the control lines. TTS encrypts it with AES-256 and transmits it.

40 Mbit/sMax into TTS

Ch. 10IRIG 106 Packets

1Harness

Onboard Recording

Record everything.
Send what fits.

VCU records every input at full quality on a built-in 2 TB SSD while it streams a lighter copy down the link. After the flight the recording comes off over Ethernet; during it, any minute can be replayed to the ground on request.

Cameras recorded 4 Bit rate per camera 8 Mbit/s

Recording time on 2 TB hours

2 TBOnboard SSD

FullQuality Recorded

ReplayOn Request

Configuration

Set up from
a browser.

Every VCU serves its own web interface on its Ethernet ports. Open the IP address and change any parameter, with nothing to install.

VCU web GUI: inputs, streams, bit rate and system status

Representative view

Encoding

Codec, resolution, frame rate, bit rate and GOP for each stream, and which input feeds it. Changes apply live, without a restart.

Streaming

Destination, protocol and port for each stream, unicast or multicast, so the video goes exactly where the link and the ground station expect it.

Monitoring

Signal on every input, the state and bit rate of every stream, temperature and supply voltage, live. Firmware is updated from the same page.

Smart Diagnostics

Status at
a Glance.

An RGB LED on the front panel shows the encoder’s state without a laptop: starting up, ready, streaming, or reporting a warning or a fault. Each BNC input has its own LED that lights when a camera signal is present, and all of them can be switched off when no light is allowed.

Input power is present and the unit is booting. The LED holds white until the self-test completes and the network is up.

Interfaces & Connectivity

Every camera.
One harness.

Cameras plug in front and back: four BNC, HDMI and DisplayPort in and out, and USB 3.1. Everything the platform needs — power, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, serial and CAN — comes in on a single 51-pin Micro-D, from a 9 to 36 VDC supply.

VCU connector face: DisplayPort, HDMI, USB 3.1 and the 51-pin Micro-D

Gigabit Ethernet

Video streams, GigE Vision cameras, web GUI and control

USB 3.1

USB3 Vision and UVC cameras, Teledyne FLIR

Analog Video

Composite PAL / NTSC on BNC

HDMI

One input, one output

DisplayPort

One input, one output

RS-232

Control, camera and gimbal commands

RS-422

Control, camera and gimbal commands

CAN bus

Control and status

Plug and Stream

Connect the cameras, power the unit and point the streams at the data link. VCU sends them as ordinary network traffic over RTSP, RTP or MPEG-TS, so the video shares the link with command and telemetry instead of needing a path of its own.

Under Control

Set it up once in the browser, then drive it from the platform: start and stop streams, switch inputs or change the bit rate in flight, over Ethernet, RS-232, RS-422 or CAN.

Environmental Qualification

Rugged and
qualified.

Every VCU is conduction-cooled with no fan, type-qualified to MIL-STD-810G across seven environmental categories, and to MIL-STD-461F for electromagnetic compatibility. Not simulated. Not estimated. Tested and verified against the standard.

✓ Operating Temperature −40 to +71°C 810G 501.5 Proc II · 502.5 Proc II

✓ Storage Temperature −40 to +85°C 810G 501.5 Proc I · 502.5 Proc I

✓ Altitude Qualification 40,000 ft 810G 500.5 Proc I & II

✓ Humidity 95% RH 810G 507.5 Proc II

✓ Acceleration 810G 513.6 Proc I & II

✓ Vibration 810G 514.6D-2 Proc I · 514.8D-1 Proc I

✓ Mechanical Shock 810G 516.6 Proc I & II

✓ Electromagnetic Compatibility MIL-STD-461F CE102 · CS114 · CS115 · CS116 · RE102 · RS103

Complete Chain

One supplier.
From camera to ground.

Video from a test article or a UAV reaches the ground in three steps: the VCU makes it small enough to send, TTS transmits it over IRIG-106 telemetry, and TRS-1S receives it at the ground station. RFBIT makes all three, so they are built to work together and come from a single supplier.

Video Encoder

VCU

Turns the cameras’ raw video into streams small enough for the link, on the aircraft, at a latency an operator can steer by.

You are here

IRIG-106 Telemetry Transmitter

TTS

Takes the VCU’s stream together with the rest of the flight data and sends it down an IRIG-106 L/S-band link, encrypted with AES-256.

Explore TTS →

IRIG-106 Telemetry Receiver

TRS-1S

Receives and demodulates the downlink at the ground station and hands the video stream on to the operator’s screens.

Explore TRS-1S →

ITAR-free

Designed and manufactured in Türkiye, and ITAR-free. Nobody in the supply chain can stop your programme for reasons that have nothing to do with it.

Ships in 8–12 Weeks

Both versions ship 8–12 weeks from order. Nothing to install on arrival: the web GUI runs on the unit.

Product Versions

Choose Your Configuration

The encoder in its housing, or as a bare board for gimbal, pod and payload makers.

VCU-E

Video Encoder · H.265 / H.264 · Eight Video Inputs

The encoder for the aircraft. Up to eight cameras in, H.265 or H.264 streams out over Gigabit Ethernet to the data link, and HDMI and DisplayPort outputs to check any input on a local screen.

Download Datasheet Drawing 3D STEP

Video In4 analog, HDMI, DP,
GigE Vision, USB

CodecH.265 / H.264
encode

Size92 × 68 × 20 mm

Weight125 g

VCU OEM

Board-Level Encoder · H.265 / H.264 · for Gimbals, Pods and Payloads

The VCU-E without its housing, for gimbal, pod and payload makers who build it into their own enclosure. The same encoder and the same video connectors on the front edge; U.FL for two analog cameras and locking JST GH headers for power, Ethernet, serial and CAN.

Request Board Details

Video In2 analog (U.FL), HDMI,
DP, GigE Vision, USB

CodecH.265 / H.264
encode

Size88 × 64 × 13 mm

Weight52 g

Specifications — VCU-E

Video

CodecH.265 / HEVC, H.264 / AVC

ProfilesHEVC Main, Main 10; AVC Baseline, Main, High

Max Resolution3840 × 2160 at 60 fps

Simultaneous StreamsUp to 8

Bit Rate100 kbps to 50 Mbps

Rate ControlCBR, VBR

Latency<50 ms glass to glass

Recording2 TB SSD, full quality on board

Video Inputs & Outputs

Analog4× composite, PAL / NTSC, 75 Ω BNC

HDMI1× HDMI in, up to 3840 × 2160 at 60 fps; 1× out

DisplayPort1× DisplayPort in, up to 3840 × 2160 at 60 fps; 1× out

GigE VisionGenICam cameras on both GigE ports

USB CamerasUSB3 Vision, UVC

Teledyne FLIRSupported directly

StreamingRTSP, RTP, UDP, MPEG-TS, SRT

Interfaces

Data Connector51-pin Micro-D

Ethernet2× Gigabit Ethernet

Serial2× RS-232, 2× RS-422

CAN2× CAN bus

USB1× USB 3.1, Type-C

Video Connectors4× BNC, 2× Micro HDMI, 2× Mini DisplayPort

ControlWeb GUI, serial, CAN

Environmental

Operating Temperature−40 to +71 °C

Storage Temperature−40 to +85 °C

AltitudeUp to 40,000 ft

Humidity95% RH

CoolingConduction, no fan

Shock & VibrationMIL-STD-810G

EMCMIL-STD-461F

Mechanical & Power

Size92 × 68 × 20 mm

Weight125 g

Supply9–36 VDC

Power<12 W

Power ProtectionOver/under-voltage, over-current, short-circuit

Surge ProtectionESD, lightning

Mechanical Drawing

Connector Pinout — 51-pin Micro-D

Row 1 · pins 1–26

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
ETH1 D0+	ETH1 D0−	ETH1 D1+	ETH1 D1−	ETH1 D2+	ETH1 D2−	ETH1 D3+	ETH1 D3−	ETH2 D0+	ETH2 D0−	ETH2 D1+	ETH2 D1−	ETH2 D2+	ETH2 D2−

15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
ETH2 D3+	ETH2 D3−	422-1 TX+	422-1 TX−	422-1 RX+	422-1 RX−	422-2 TX+	422-2 TX−	422-2 RX+	422-2 RX−	PWR IN+	PWR IN+

Row 2 · pins 27–51

27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39
232-1 TX	232-1 RX	232-2 TX	232-2 RX	DGND	CAN1 H	CAN1 L	CAN2 H	CAN2 L	DGND	NC	NC	NC

40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51
NC	NC	NC	NC	NC	NC	NC	NC	NC	NC	PWR IN−	PWR IN−

Pins 25 and 26 are the supply input, pins 50 and 51 its return.
Gigabit Ethernet, RS-422 and CAN run as differential pairs on neighbouring pins.
Pins 31 and 36 (DGND) are the ground reference for the RS-232 and CAN lines. Pins 37–49 are not connected.

3D Model

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Accessories

Part Number	Description
VCU-ACC-CBL-51D	51-Pin Micro-D Breakout Cable, 1 m (extra): 2× RJ45, serial, CAN and power leads
VCU-ACC-HDMI	Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable, 1 m (extra)
VCU-ACC-MDP	Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable, 1 m (extra)

All three ship in the evaluation kit; afterwards they are ordered by part number.

Ordering Information

Part Number	Model	Side	Price
VCU-E	Video Encoder	Airborne	From $2,499
VCU OEM	Video Board	Integrated	Quoted

Evaluation kit: one ordered unit with the Micro-D breakout, HDMI and DisplayPort cables.

VCU-E from $2,499. ITAR‑free, ships in 8–12 weeks.

Request a Quote

Compare Versions

Two versions, side by side.

Parameter	VCU‑EEncoder	VCU OEMBoard
Side	Airborne	Integrated
Video In	4× analog (BNC), HDMI, DisplayPort, GigE Vision, USB3 Vision	2× analog (U.FL), HDMI, DisplayPort, GigE Vision, USB3 Vision
Video Out	Network streams; HDMI, DisplayPort monitor out	Network streams; HDMI, DisplayPort monitor out
Codec	H.265 / H.264 encode	H.265 / H.264 encode
Max Resolution	3840 × 2160 at 60 fps	3840 × 2160 at 60 fps
Streams	Up to 8 encoded	Up to 8 encoded
Latency	<50 ms glass to glass	<50 ms glass to glass
Dimensions (mm)	92 × 68 × 20	88 × 64 × 13
Weight	125 g	52 g
Power Consumption	<12 W	<12 W
Recording	2 TB SSD	2 TB SSD
Price	From $2,499	Quoted

VCU OEM is the VCU-E’s board without the housing: the same encoder and firmware, with two analog inputs instead of four.

VCUVideo Compression Units

Gigabits in.Megabits out.

Video you canfly on.

Whatever the cameraalready speaks.

Four cameras.One stream.

Every frame knowswhere it was taken.

Every stream.One encrypted link.

Video over IRIG-106.Straight into TTS.