Smiths Detection has been awarded an £88 million contract to develop, manufacture, supply and support next-generation Chemical Sense Equipment for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The award is part of an MoD programme to replace and strengthen its chemical detecting capabilities, helping to ensure that areas are safe from toxic chemicals that could harm defence personnel or civilians.

For the programme, Smiths Detection will develop three next-generation chemical sensor products, including a wearable personal chemical agent sensor with combined vapour and aerosol capabilities; a survey chemical agent sensor, a portable device to check potentially hazardous areas or surfaces; and a remote monitoring chemical sensor for use in fixed locations with enhanced identification and classification performance.

Smiths Detection will be responsible for all stages of the development and supply of the systems, including laboratory research, field testing, manufacture and supply, and ongoing service and support.

The new technology, which will be developed in close collaboration with the MoD, will feature Smiths Detection proprietary Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) detection and identification technology and be based on its Lightweight Chemical Detector (LCD) line of advanced, easy-to-use threat detection devices. With over 75,000 units already sold around the world, the LCD has a legacy of protecting military personnel, police and hazmat responders by alerting operators to detect toxic substances and dangerous chemicals.

Smiths Detection President, Roland Carter, said: “We’re honoured to have been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence to supply this next-generation technology “Since our business inception, nearly 70 years ago, we have been designing, developing, manufacturing, and servicing chemical sensing technology. This technology protects defence forces, including the UK MoD, and communities from known and emerging threats. This award is testament to our leading technology and the knowledge, commitment and ingenuity of the people in our organisation who everyday help to make the world a safer place.”

2N, the global market leader in internet-enabled intercoms and access control systems, has launched a new IP answering unit, the 2N Clip, designed to meet the growing demand for IP technology in mid-range residential projects.

The 4″ video device runs on the same powerful, reliable operating system as 2N’s premium IP products, and offers many of the same advantages, including top-quality audio and video. It also offers the same high standards in other areas, including cybersecurity and sustainability, which more and more users demand. On top of that, the 2N Clip is the fastest answering unit on the market to install – it only takes three minutes – and it can be managed and configured remotely via the My2N Management Platform.

The 2N Clip has also been developed with a focus on the importance of aesthetics in access control. High-end functionality will always be the top priority for access control firms. Still, when technological capabilities come together with elegant design, as in the case of the 2N Clip, access devices can genuinely enhance the status of the building in which they are installed.

The product launch follows the CEDIA Expo 2023 in Denver, Colorado, where the 2N Clip was shown live to industry experts for the first time – and where it met with an overwhelmingly positive response.

“IP technology has transformed access control, enhancing both security and convenience. But in the residential sector, there has been a common perception that IP technology is only affordable in high-end, luxury projects. The 2N Clip completely up-ends that idea, and will help deliver 2N’s mission to bring the benefits of IP technology to every type of home,” said Michael Nicholson, 2N’s Business Development Manager for the UK & Ireland.

Bosch is realigning its Building Technologies division: in the future, the division is to focus on its regional integrator business, with solutions and services for building security, energy efficiency, and building automation.

The company plans to sell most of the Building Technologies division’s product business. This includes the Video, Access and Intrusion, and Communication business units, and affects some 4,300 associates at more than 90 locations worldwide. Bosch is now looking for a buyer who will take on all three business units together with their associates and locations.

The product business with fire alarm systems, by contrast, is not to be sold. Because of its importance for systems integration, it is to be merged with the integrator business and continued.

“We are confident we will be able to find a buyer who will take over all three business units, and who will further strengthen the business and give it a secure future,” said Christian Fischer, Deputy Chairman of the Bosch Board of Management. He explained that, for strategic reasons, Bosch does not intend to develop this business further.

Thomas Quante, the President of Bosch Building Technologies, added: “The product business is excellently positioned for a promising future under a new owner: innovative products, highly skilled associates, and a market environment with attractive opportunities for growth.”

Following the realignment, the Building Technologies division will employ some 7,600 associates, and operate at 40 locations in 8 countries. As a brand-independent systems integrator with a wide-ranging portfolio of energy and building solutions, the division intends to benefit in the future from digitalization and growing customer demand for integrated, intelligent, and cross-domain solutions in the areas of building security, energy efficiency, and building automation.

The Bosch Building Technologies division is a leading global supplier of security, safety, and communications products and systems. About 10,900 associates generated sales of 2.5 billion euros in 2022. Protecting lives, buildings, and assets is the major aim. The product portfolio includes video security, intrusion detection, fire detection, voice evacuation systems, access control and management systems, as well as professional audio and conference systems.

Milestone Systems, a leading provider of video technology, is preparing for the upcoming release of a new camera-to-cloud deployment option for its Milestone Kite video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) software.

Known as Milestone Kite Camera to Cloud, the new option will offer even greater simplicity and cost-efficiency to customers. As an alternative or expansion to gateway installations, Camera to Cloud builds on Milestone’s focus on flexible and scalable solutions that support evolving needs.

Ideal for Sites With Low Camera Counts

Milestone Kite Camera to Cloud VSaaS works with a series of Axis cameras pre-installed with AI-based Axis Object Analytics. All computing, recording and video storage take place on the cameras, which connect directly to the Milestone Kite cloud. This can reduce bandwidth load and associated costs, as well as installation and maintenance costs.

“The combination of simplicity and cost efficiency makes Milestone Kite Camera to Cloud a highly practical choice for organizations with smaller or newly built locations, or simply those where having a gateway onsite would be impractical,” says Jesper Just Jensen, VP Products at Milestone Systems.

Camera to Cloud is particularly suitable for businesses with multiple locations with a small number of cameras at each site. It is also beneficial for those with limited IT knowledge, bandwidth limitations or situations where installing on-site gateway hardware is not feasible.

Seamless Gateway Solutions

Companies already using Milestone Kite with gateways can expand to new sites with Camera to Cloud. The new sites will be recognised and managed as part of the same Kite service as the gateway deployments.

Milestone Kite was introduced in January of this year, providing a simple, secure, and scalable cloud video security solution, particularly for small and medium-sized organisations looking for a budget-friendly video management option. The introduction of Camera to Cloud enhances Milestone Kite’s commitment to easy cloud video security.

With the new Camera to Cloud offering, set to be released in Q1, 2024 – there are more options available, and customers can save on costs and bandwidth.

Texecom has made two key appointments to strengthen its EMEA sales team. Thomas Vanden Wyngaerdt has been named as Head of Sales and Tom Wright as Account Manager.

Wyngaerdt has over 12 years of sales management experience, primarily in the telematics industry. In his new role, he will oversee the full EMEA sales and work closely with the existing team, customers and distribution partners to help grow sales of the company’s range.

“As a company renowned for its customer-centric approach, Texecom holds a respected reputation for manufacturing high quality professionally graded products for the global security market. I am looking forward to building upon the great relationships we already have with our customers whilst building new ones,” commented Wyngaerdt.

Wright will take responsibility for a number of key customer accounts. He will additionally assist them in developing their business.

“Texecom’s products are highly regarded within the industry and I relish the opportunity to work closely with our customer base to best support them in all aspects of their intruder detection business,” commented Wright.

Gunnebo Safe Storage took the next step towards establishing a stand-alone high-security locks business with the acquisition of Tecnosicurezza, a manufacturer of electronic locking systems for safes, vaults, and ATMs.

Tecnosicurezza is based in Verona, northern Italy, with subsidiaries in the USA and Spain.

“By focusing on the needs of our customers and supporting their daily operational processes, with an emphasis on connectivity, this high-security lock business will increase our support to them along the end-to-end value chain.”

Gunnebo says the acquisition will enable the creation of synergies across the existing portfolio of Gunnebo locks, as well as across the safes and vaults business, by leveraging technology and customer service, combined with its digital expertise.

Anna Miller, Tecnosicurezza Managing Director, says: “This is an incredible opportunity to scale the availability of our class-leading locks range into over 100 markets. Gunnebo Safe Storage’s complementary expertise and shared focus on innovation and sustainability make this the perfect next step in our company’s journey.”

Stefan Syrén, Gunnebo Group President & CEO, explains: “The locks market is moving fast towards connectivity, and Tecnosicurezza together with Gunnebo Safe Storage will form a strong base on which to build our next-generation locks and Safe Storage Solutions.”

“I am delighted that Anna will continue to lead Tecnosicurezza as Managing Director and along with Andrew will ensure that Tecnosicurezza moves from being an important strategic supplier to joining the Gunnebo family. The creation of this standalone business unit will benefit both parties’ existing and new customers.”

According to the latest information from Marketsandmarkets, the global AI camera market is expected to be valued at USD 7.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 22.1 billion by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.9% from 2023 to 2028. The convergence of AI technology, decreasing costs, and a wide range of practical applications have fueled the growth of the AI camera market.

The growth of processor offerings in the AI camera market is driven by several key factors that emphasise the critical role of high-performance processors in enabling advanced AI capabilities and real-time processing. AI-powered cameras perform increasingly complex tasks like object detection, facial recognition, natural language processing, and scene analysis. These tasks require powerful processors capable of handling the computational workload efficiently.

Natural Language Processing an Important Factor

The integration of NLP technology into AI cameras enhances their functionality, accessibility, and usability across various industries and applications. Using natural language, NLP technology enables AI cameras to understand and respond to human commands and queries. This enhances user-friendliness and accessibility, allowing users to control and customise camera functions more intuitively. NLP technology allows AI cameras to personalise interactions based on user preferences and behaviour. This can include tailoring recommendations, settings, and responses to individual users.

In-Depth Analysis of Surveillance Footage

The analysts suggest that the growth of the AI camera market for security and surveillance is driven by the increasing need for advanced security solutions, the growing complexity of security threats, and the potential for AI technology to significantly improve the effectiveness of surveillance systems. AI-powered cameras can detect and identify security threats, such as intruders, unauthorised access, and suspicious behaviour, with high accuracy. This capability enhances proactive security measures. AI technology enables video analytics for in-depth analysis of surveillance footage. This includes facial recognition, object detection, license plate recognition, and even behavioural analysis, improving the effectiveness of security systems.

Various Applications of AI Cameras

The need for heightened security measures in public and private spaces has driven the adoption of CCTV AI cameras. These cameras offer advanced threat detection, facial recognition, and real-time alerts, enhancing security capabilities. Many organisations can easily integrate AI-powered CCTV cameras into their existing surveillance systems, enhancing capabilities without significant infrastructure changes. The growth of the CCTV AI camera market is driven by the critical role these cameras play in improving security, reducing crime, and providing valuable data for decision-making. The development and testing of autonomous vehicles in North America rely on AI cameras for object detection, lane tracking, and obstacle avoidance, contributing to the growth of the automotive AI camera market.

Investments in Smart City Initiatives in North America

The need for advanced security and surveillance solutions is a significant driver of the AI camera market in North America. Businesses, government agencies, and residential users are investing in AI cameras to enhance security, deter crime, and monitor properties. North American cities and municipalities are investing in smart city initiatives that incorporate AI cameras for traffic management, public safety, environmental monitoring, and urban planning. Retailers in North America use AI cameras to prevent theft and fraud by identifying shoplifting incidents and monitoring suspicious activities in real-time.

The AI camera market includes major players like Sony Group Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, Samsung, Axis Communications and others. These players have a strong market presence for AI cameras across various countries in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world.

The cooperation between MOBOTIX AG and Kepler Vision Technologies has brought together two of the world’s leading IT experts in the healthcare industry.

Kepler Vision Technologies is a Dutch company that uses artificial intelligence to recognize human activities to make the lives of patients and the work of nurses easier in healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Their Night Nurse app analyzes live video streams, detects if and when customers need care and informs staff accordingly.

MOBOTIX, a Konica Minolta company, is a German manufacturer of premium-quality intelligent IP video systems, setting standards for innovative camera technologies and decentralized security solutions with the highest level of cybersecurity and GDPR compliance. The flexibility, reliability, built-in intelligence and unparalleled data security of the company’s solutions are valued in many industries. These competencies are indispensable in the highly personality-sensitive area of healthcare.

The two companies plan to launch the first joint solution, which will improve the quality of care, save time and reduce financial expenses, by the end of this year.

“MOBOTIX promotes recovery and well-being with its video technology. This led MOBOTIX to be the market leader in health care sensors” said Harro Stokman, CEO of Kepler Vision Technologies, during his visit to the MOBOTIX headquarters in Langmeil. “This is what convinced us of the cooperation because to have economic success in healthcare, people must benefit. That is the sick person being cared for, the patient’s family, and the caregivers who urgently need relief. Last but not least, the facility’s operators must benefit from the solution,” explains Stokman.

“With Kepler Vision Technologies, we have found a partner that shares our values in the sensitive area of healthcare,” added Christian Cabirol, CTO of MOBOTIX AG. “We are convinced that our joint solution – the combination of Kepler’s AI expertise in the nursing and care sector and our data- and cyber-secure, qualitatively and technologically leading hardware and software – will be an enormous asset for the nursing and care market,” Cabirol explains.