Get a 180-Degree View by Merging Two Blink Security Cameras
▼ Summary
– Blink announced two new 2K resolution security cameras, the Mini 2K+ and Outdoor 2K+, along with the Blink Arc accessory.
– The Arc accessory combines two cameras to create a seamless 180-degree view, eliminating blind spots that occur with pan/tilt cameras.
– This product was developed rapidly in 60 days using improvised prototyping methods including hot glue, a 3D printer, and AI video stitching tools.
– The Arc works with existing Blink Mini 2 cameras or new Mini 2K+ models and connects them to a single outdoor power supply.
– The Blink app stitches the camera feeds into a panoramic view and enables pan/zoom functionality on the 180-degree feed during events.
Achieving a complete 180-degree security view is now possible by merging two Blink cameras using the innovative new Blink Arc accessory. Announced at Amazon’s recent fall hardware event, the Blink Mini 2K+ and Blink Outdoor 2K+ cameras feature enhanced 2K resolution for capturing finer details. However, the standout development is the Arc, a clever accessory that combines the video feeds from two separate cameras into a single, seamless panoramic view.
Jonathan Cohn, Blink’s head of product, identified a common weakness in traditional pan-and-tilt security cameras. He described it as the classic “Mission Impossible” scenario, where an intruder simply waits for the camera to rotate away before moving. The Arc was conceived as a direct solution to eliminate these dangerous blind spots. Remarkably, the initial concept was prototyped in Cohn’s own kitchen over just 60 days, using basic snap mounts, hot glue, and a borrowed 3D printer.
The core challenge was perfecting the physical angle and the necessary video overlap between the two cameras. A junior mechanical engineer tackled this issue, employing an AI tool to merge the video streams. While early tests showed some image warping, the results were immediately promising. By utilizing a 3D printer to create the first Arc housing and inserting a pair of third-generation Blink Mini 2K+ cameras, the team had a working model. Soon after, the computer vision team developed a method to dewarp the video, resulting in an almost flawless 180-degree live feed.
This do-it-yourself spirit is a hallmark of the Blink brand, seen in previous add-ons like the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt mount. The Arc follows this same practical philosophy. The accessory is designed to work with your existing Blink Mini 2 cameras or the new Mini 2K+ models, though it is not compatible with other Blink devices. The only requirement is that both cameras are the same model. Once they are physically mounted in the Arc, the Blink app handles the rest, stitching their individual views together into one cohesive panorama.
The Arc unit itself holds the cameras at the precise angle needed for optimal overlap and allows them to share a single outdoor power supply for simpler installation. It can be attached to a snap mount and positioned horizontally, vertically, or even hung under your eaves. All the complex video stitching is managed by the app’s software; users simply designate one camera as “left” and the other as “right” within the application. An added intelligent feature allows the system to pan and zoom on subjects during an event. This creates the appearance of an active tracking camera, but it is actually just digitally zooming within the expansive 180-degree video feed.
(Source: Wired)
