In critical video streaming environments such as surveillance and teleoperations, achieving ultra-low latency is essential. Whether monitoring security footage or remotely controlling vehicles, the ability to transmit video in real-time with almost zero delay can have a huge impact.
In teleoperations, where operators remotely control machines, drones, or vehicles, even a fraction of a second delay can lead to serious consequences. For example, in autonomous vehicle guidance, operators need instant feedback from cameras to react to obstacles, adjust speed, or navigate safely. Any delay can result in accidents or inefficiencies. Similarly, in robotic surgery, a surgeon controlling robotic instruments from a different location requires precise, real-time visuals to perform delicate procedures without lag.
For surveillance and security monitoring, ultra-low latency (ULL) ensures that emergency response teams can act immediately upon detecting a security breach. A delayed feed—even over one second—typically requires an extra person on the ground to visually confirm incidents before making critical operational decisions. However, with ULL streaming, decision-makers receive real-time video feeds that match what is happening on the ground, removing the need for additional personnel and enabling instant remote intervention.
Understanding Jitter Buffers and Their Impact on Streaming
Before diving into the comparison, it’s essential to understand the jitter buffer, a key component in video streaming. A jitter buffer is a temporary storage area that helps smooth out variations in packet arrival times caused by network instability. While it improves playback quality, it can also introduce latency.
With standard WebRTC, the jitter buffer can become unstable, leading to video stuttering or freezing when network conditions fluctuate. This is particularly problematic in mobile networks, where bandwidth can drop suddenly. Soliton’s RASCOW2, on the other hand, as a streaming protocol, is designed to handle these fluctuations efficiently, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted stream even in challenging conditions.
WebRTC: A Standard for Low-Latency Streaming
WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is widely used for peer-to-peer video streaming. It is designed for low-latency communication and is commonly used in applications like video conferencing, live streaming, and browser-based video calls.
Limitations of WebRTC in Surveillance and Teleoperations
- Bandwidth Sensitivity – WebRTC struggles when bandwidth drops below a certain threshold, often stopping transmission entirely.
- Jitter Buffer Instability – Standard WebRTC implementations can experience video instability in fluctuating network conditions.
- Limited Support for H.265 – Most WebRTC implementations rely on H.264, which is less efficient than H.265 for high-quality video at lower bitrates.
Soliton’s RASCOW2: Optimized for Mobile Networks and Teleoperations
RASCOW2 (Real-time Auto Speed Control based On Waterway-model) is Soliton’s proprietary ultra-low latency streaming protocol, specifically designed for mobile networks and teleoperations. Unlike WebRTC, RASCOW2 is built to handle highly fluctuating bandwidth conditions, making it ideal for cellular and satellite networks.
Key Advantages of RASCOW2
- Adaptive Encoding – RASCOW2 dynamically adjusts encoding to maintain transmission, even when bandwidth drops to a lowly150kb/sec.
- True Ultra-Low Latency – Achieves 65ms glass-to-glass latency over 4G and 35ms over 5G and fixed lines, making it the lowest-latency streaming protocol available.
- Network Bonding & Error Correction – RASCOW2 supports encryption, error correction, and bonding of multiple networks for enhanced reliability.
- Hardware & Software Flexibility – Available as a hardware transmitter (Zao-X) or as a software SDK (Zao SDK) for integration into a range of NVIDIA Jetson-based systems including Orin.
The Role of Soliton Zao Cloud in Ultra-Low Latency Streaming
To ensure seamless video delivery, Soliton offers Zao Cloud, a client-server architecture that acts as a receiver for RASCOW2 streams. Zao Cloud converts the stream to WebRTC for final delivery to clients, ensuring ultra-low latency from camera (Tx) to monitor (Rx) without the need for any codec changes.
Why Zao Cloud Stands Out
- Supports H.265 WebRTC – Unlike standard WebRTC, Zao Cloud enables H.265 streaming, reducing bandwidth usage while maintaining high quality.
- Lightweight Windows Client – No GPU overhead, allowing multiple simultaneous clients without performance degradation.
- Alternative to VPNs – Unlike VPN-based solutions that limit connections to a single client, Zao Cloud supports multiple concurrent users.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Streaming Protocol
For general low-latency streaming, WebRTC remains a solid choice. However, for mission-critical applications like surveillance, teleoperations, and remote control, RASCOW2 is the superior option. Its ability to recover quickly from bandwidth drops, maintain ultra-low latency, and support encrypted, bonded connections make it the ideal solution for mobile and satellite networks.
If your application demands real-time video streaming with minimal latency, RASCOW2 combined with Zao Cloud offers unmatched performance. Whether you’re remotely controlling vehicles, monitoring security feeds, or managing teleoperations, this technology ensures reliable, high-quality streaming. even in the most unpredictable network conditions.
