NightRide Trailblazer Thermal Cameras
See What Headlights Cannot
Darkness, smoke, fog, wooded terrain and rural roads can make it difficult for first responders to see people, animals, vehicles and potential hazards ahead.
NightRide Trailblazer adds forward-looking thermal imaging directly to the response vehicle, allowing personnel to detect heat signatures beyond the capabilities of normal vision and conventional vehicle lighting.
Compact, rugged and available in multiple configurations, Trailblazer gives Arkansas law enforcement, fire, EMS, search and rescue and other public safety organizations another way to improve visibility and situational awareness in challenging environments.
AVC Wireless provides NightRide Trailblazer systems throughout Arkansas, including professional vehicle installation and integration with other public safety technologies.
Schedule a NightRide Consultation or Demonstration
Thermal Vision from the Vehicle
A handheld thermal camera can be extremely useful once personnel arrive on scene. Trailblazer provides a different capability: thermal visibility while operating from the vehicle.
Mounted to the vehicle, the camera provides a continuous forward thermal view without requiring personnel to hold and operate a separate device.
Because thermal imaging detects differences in heat rather than relying on visible light, Trailblazer can help reveal people, animals and other heat-producing objects in complete darkness and in challenging environmental conditions. NightRide specifically identifies darkness, fog, rain, snow and smoke among the conditions in which the system can provide thermal visibility.
What Could Be Ahead That You Cannot See?
For first responders, seeing something seconds earlier can matter.
Trailblazer can provide another layer of visibility during:
- Nighttime Patrol — Detect people, animals and activity beyond normal headlight visibility.
- Missing-Person Searches — Look for human heat signatures along roads, fields and wooded areas.
- Search & Rescue — Assist crews operating across large or difficult-to-see areas.
- Fire & Emergency Response — Add thermal visibility when darkness or smoke reduces normal observation.
- Rural Operations — Identify potential hazards along unlit roads and remote areas.
- Perimeter Observation — Observe heat signatures in poorly illuminated areas.
- Wildlife Detection — Identify animals near roadways and operating areas.
- Low-Visibility Response — Provide additional information when environmental conditions interfere with normal vision.
Choose the Trailblazer That Fits the Mission
Public safety agencies do not all have the same vehicle, operating environment or thermal-imaging requirements.
NightRide currently offers the Trailblazer family in 384 × 288 and high-resolution 640 × 512 configurations, with different mounting and connectivity options.
AVC can help determine which combination makes the most sense for the agency, vehicle and mission.
NightRide Trailblazer 384
The Trailblazer 384 provides dependable vehicle-mounted thermal imaging in a compact package.
With a 384 × 288 thermal sensor and 9mm lens, the current Trailblazer 384 provides a wide field of view designed to help personnel detect people, animals, vehicles and potential hazards ahead.
NightRide specifies thermal detection at distances up to 480 yards, providing agencies with thermal awareness well beyond the immediate area illuminated by a vehicle’s headlights.
Highlights:
- 384 × 288 thermal imaging
- 9mm lens
- Up to 480-yard thermal detection
- 30 Hz thermal video
- IP69-sealed construction
- Low power consumption
- Multiple mounting options
- Multiple connectivity options
Request Trailblazer 384 Information
NightRide Trailblazer 640
For agencies that want greater image detail and longer detection capability, Trailblazer 640 increases thermal resolution to 640 × 512.
The higher-resolution sensor can provide a more detailed thermal image while maintaining the compact design that makes Trailblazer practical for vehicle installations.
NightRide specifies detection at distances up to 660 yards for its current Trailblazer 640 USB configuration.
Highlights:
- 640 × 512 high-resolution thermal imaging
- Wide field of view
- Up to 660-yard thermal detection
- Rugged IP69-sealed construction
- Compact vehicle-mounted design
- Multiple mounting options
- Multiple connectivity options
Request Trailblazer 640 Information
Hood Mount or Grille Mount
The right installation matters almost as much as selecting the right camera.
NightRide currently offers Trailblazer configurations for hood and grille mounting, giving AVC flexibility when designing the system around the vehicle.
Hood-Mounted Trailblazer
A hood-mounted configuration provides a straightforward way to add forward-looking thermal imaging to a vehicle and can be appropriate when installation flexibility and accessibility are priorities.
Grille-Mounted Trailblazer
Select Trailblazer models can be integrated into the vehicle grille for a lower-profile installation.
AVC can evaluate the vehicle and recommend the mounting position that provides the appropriate field of view while considering other installed equipment.
Connect Thermal Video to the Equipment Your Team Uses
A thermal camera is only useful if personnel can easily see and use the image.
Trailblazer is available with Analog, USB and Ethernet connectivity options, providing flexibility for different vehicle technology configurations.
Depending on the selected Trailblazer model and vehicle equipment, thermal video can be integrated with compatible:
In-Vehicle Displays | Windows Laptops | Tablets | Ethernet-Connected Equipment
Rather than simply selecting a camera from a catalog, AVC can help determine how the thermal image will be viewed, where equipment should be located and how the system should be installed in the vehicle.
Built for Public Safety Environments
Equipment installed on a patrol car, fire apparatus or emergency response vehicle has to withstand conditions very different from equipment installed inside a building.
Current Trailblazer configurations feature rugged sealed construction designed for exterior vehicle use. Select 384 and 640 models are IP69 rated, operate in temperatures ranging from -40°F to +140°F and require only 4 watts of power.
That combination of durability, compact size and low power requirements makes Trailblazer well suited to vehicles that must remain ready in demanding environments.
Trailblazer vs. NightRide 360
Which Thermal Camera Is Right for Your Agency?
AVC offers NightRide solutions for agencies with different operational requirements.
NightRide Trailblazer
Forward-Looking Thermal Visibility
Trailblazer is designed for agencies that want a compact vehicle-mounted camera providing a fixed thermal view ahead of the vehicle.
It can be an excellent fit for patrol, rural operations, nighttime driving, search operations and other applications where the primary objective is detecting what may be ahead.
You may prefer Trailblazer when you need:
- Forward-looking thermal imaging
- A compact exterior installation
- Hood or grille mounting
- 384 or 640 thermal resolution
- Straightforward in-vehicle thermal visibility
NightRide 360®
Pan/Tilt Thermal Situational Awareness
NightRide 360 adds remotely controlled panning and tilting, allowing personnel to move the thermal camera’s view around the vehicle rather than observing only a fixed forward position.
The 360 family includes both 384 × 288 and 640 × 512 thermal configurations and multiple lens options. NightRide also specifies magnetic rooftop mounting and the ability to display captured video on a phone, tablet or computer.
You may prefer NightRide 360 when you need:
- Remote pan/tilt control
- Observation around the vehicle
- Search and perimeter operations
- Multiple lens choices
- Greater operator control over where the camera is viewing
More Than a Thermal Camera Installation
This is an area where I would make AVC much more prominent than on the old page.
AVC does not have to treat NightRide as an isolated piece of equipment.
A Trailblazer installation can be considered as part of the agency’s complete vehicle technology package, including:
- Mobile two-way radios
- In-car video
- Emergency lighting and warning
- Computer and tablet mounting
- Vehicle connectivity
- Equipment consoles and mounting
- Other public safety vehicle technologies
AVC can help coordinate equipment selection, placement, wiring, installation and integration, reducing the need for an agency to manage multiple technology vendors for the same vehicle.
Learn More About AVC Vehicle Upfitting
NightRide Trailblazer Thermal Cameras Across Arkansas
AVC provides NightRide thermal imaging solutions to public safety organizations throughout Arkansas.
With five locations across the state, agencies have access to a local team that can help with product selection, vehicle integration, installation and ongoing support.
Fayetteville | Jonesboro | North Little Rock | Fort Smith | Russellville
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a NightRide Trailblazer thermal camera?
NightRide Trailblazer is a compact vehicle-mounted thermal camera that detects differences in heat rather than relying on visible light. It can help personnel see people, animals, vehicles and other heat-producing objects in darkness and other low-visibility environments.
Is Trailblazer designed for law enforcement vehicles?
Trailblazer can be used for law enforcement and other public safety applications. AVC can help determine the appropriate camera, mounting configuration and connectivity for the specific vehicle and application.
What is the difference between Trailblazer 384 and Trailblazer 640?
The primary difference is thermal resolution. Trailblazer 384 uses a 384 × 288 thermal sensor, while Trailblazer 640 uses a higher-resolution 640 × 512 sensor. The 640 provides greater thermal image detail and, depending on configuration, greater detection capability.
Can Trailblazer see in complete darkness?
Yes. Thermal cameras detect differences in heat rather than depending on visible light, allowing them to provide an image in complete darkness.
Can AVC install NightRide Trailblazer on our vehicles?
Yes. AVC can help agencies select, install and integrate NightRide thermal imaging as part of a broader public safety vehicle technology solution.
Is NightRide 360 different from Trailblazer?
Yes. Trailblazer provides a fixed forward-looking thermal view. NightRide 360 adds remotely controlled pan-and-tilt capability, allowing an operator to change the direction of the thermal view. The uploaded NightRide specification sheet confirms remote pan/tilt across its 360 configurations.
See What You Have Been Missing
Seeing thermal imaging operate from a vehicle is the best way to understand what it can add to an agency’s situational awareness.
AVC can help your organization compare Trailblazer 384, Trailblazer 640 and NightRide 360, evaluate mounting and connectivity options and determine which system best fits your vehicles and operations.
Schedule a NightRide Consultation or Demonstration
Contact AVC Wireless