Axis enters body worn camera market

Axis Communications has entered the body worn camera market for the first time designed for law enforcement and private security.

The solution – including the robust camera, docking station and system controller – has been designed on an open system architecture, which will allow for integration with a broad range of video management systems (VMS) and evidence management systems (EMS).

The benefits of body worn cameras in capturing evidence, deterring criminal behaviour and training of officers and security personnel, are well-understood in the law enforcement sector and increasingly recognised in the private security industry.

The Axis body worn camera solution is the result of extensive research and development and numerous interviews with law enforcement and private security organisations. One critical aspect of the solution that was highlighted by potential customers was the need to maximize their existing investments in VMS and EMS software, hence the open architecture. The Axis body worn solution can be used with a third-party VMS and EMS, on-premise or in the cloud, allowing for integration with other video surveillance data. It can also be delivered as an end-to-end solution, using Axis Camera Station, the company’s own VMS software.

Fredrik Andersson, Global Product Manager, New Solutions Initiative at Axis Communications, explains: “When we’re in the process of developing a new solution, we’re always committed to deliver the best possible quality of video and audio within the constraints of the specific form factor. For the body worn camera, obvious challenges relate to finding the optimum combination of size, weight, the need for robustness and maximizing battery life. To get all these elements right, our research and iterative design process included numerous conversations with customers, multiple product prototypes and a number of early-stage pilot projects.”

The new Axis body worn camera system features three main hardware components: the camera itself; the camera docking station (8 or 1-bay); and the system controller.

The camera captures video up to 1080p @30fps and audio through dual microphones for noise suppression capabilities. Wide dynamic range technology is employed to guarantee image quality in even the most challenging light conditions, while Axis Zipstream for body worn reduces the demands for storage. Battery power is designed to cover a ‘full shift’, with 12 hours of normal usage and the capability for charging in-car or from a power bank.

The docking station and the system controller are separate units. The system controller provides a single integration and management point, and allows for fast and reliable video offloading (100Mbit per camera). All data is encrypted both at rest and in transfer using AES256 and TLS.

The camera also features built-in GPS/GNSS receiver for location tracking; Bluetooth Low Energy 4.1; IEEE 802.11b/g/n; and a 6-axis gyro and accelerometer.