FlySPEC is a video camera system designed for real-time remote
operation. A hybrid design combines the high resolution of an
optomechanical video camera with the wide field of view always
available from a panoramic camera. The control system integrates
requests from multiple users so that each controls a virtual
camera. The control system seamlessly integrates manual and
fully automatic control. It supports a range of options from
untended automatic to full manual control. The system can also
learn control strategies from user requests. Additionally, the
panoramic view is always available for an intuitive interface, and
objects are never out of view regardless of the zoom factor. We
present the system architecture, an information-theoretic approach
to combining panoramic and zoomed images to optimally satisfy
user requests, and experimental results that show the FlySPEC
system significantly assists users in a remote inspection tasks.
