Device and method for enhancing covert operations in hostile environments by reducing bandwidth and power requirements

A method of capturing and processing sensor data using a compact sensor system, the sensor system comprising a housing, a sensor, processing hardware, and a heat reduction system, the method comprising:

• capturing sensor data via the sensor;
• transmitting the sensor data to the processing hardware;
• identifying, via the processing hardware, bits in the sensor data;
• analyzing, via the processing hardware, the bits by segmenting the sensor data;
• describing, via the processing hardware, the segmented sensor data using a data representation;
• and
• dissipating heat produced by the processing hardware, via the heat reduction system.

A compact camera system for capturing and processing image data, comprising:

• a housing,
• at least one camera disposed in the housing and capturing image data;
• processing hardware for performing image processing, the processing hardware disposed on at least one flexible circuit board, the flexible circuit board disposed in the housing, the processing hardware receiving image data from the camera;
• a processor readable media storing imaging software instructions;
• and
• at least one heat sink dissipating heat,
• wherein the processing hardware processes the image data to create segmented object data and transmits the segmented object data to a remote location