Smart Home Security May Just Be AI’s Greatest Benefactor

Early applications of AI in the home technology integration industry grab headlines when talking about home automation systems and voice control, but ahead of the curve the more practical applications of cutting-edge intelligence are in security systems.

Leveraging computer vision and advanced analytics, surveillance systems are now capable of detecting the presence of humans, packages, vehicles, license plates, faces, and more, adding a new layer of security and personalization for homeowners who want an advanced level of detail from their security systems.

AI’s Uses Go Beyond Simple Motion Detection

Quang Trinh, business development manager of Platform Technologies at Axis Communications, says AI has great potential to expand use cases, increase efficiencies, and add value to solutions deployed.

The ability of surveillance cameras to detect faces, packages, people, and other objects is becoming the industry standard, with entry-level, consumer-focused cameras from Ring and Google Nest offering these capabilities, for instance. Channel-oriented manufacturers take it a step further.

These advanced features extend into analytics, with AI models from Axis Communications now able to detect two major object classes with accuracy: people and vehicles. The same level of precision can then be applied to specific features like license plate identification

“The improved detection and classification of these two object classes also allow us to generate metadata to provide context to the objects, such as direction, speed, upper color, lower color, license plate, and sub-features of vehicles like buses, trucks, bikes, and motorcycles,” Trinh explains.

But Why is Such Precision Needed in Security?

According to Trinh, using the metadata generated from just two those two object classes Axis can then integrate the information into video management software, providing valuable insights to help security practitioners and homeowners review incidents and events more efficiently.

“Since the deep learning AI models are only trained to detect and classify specific objects such as people and vehicles, this reduces a good amount of false alerts with objects that don’t fall under those two categories,” Trinh says, explaining the value further

Going back to license plate detection with Axis, users may now upload trusted license plate numbers into the system. These types of advancements also help to reduce false alerts, with models first leveraging traditional pixel-based algorithms to filter if there is an object in the scene and then pass the pixels to a deep-learning model for further detection and classification, Trinh says. 

Offering separate thoughts on the value of the technology, Todd Keller, president of Speco, says, “Whether it’s facial recognition, human detection, line crossing, or license plate identification, all of these things give us the opportunity to give homeowners a heads-up if someone comes into a protected area.”

AI video analytics are now so advanced that they even go beyond person or vehicle detection and can detect what a person is wearing, the make and model of a vehicle, and more, adds Corey Mutterperl, vice president at Speco Technologies.

“All of this boils down to essentially notifying the homeowner of the activity that caused the motion rather than only motion alerts,” Mutterperl concludes.

More Precise Detection Means Better Automations As Well

When tied into a smart home system, these integrations can also enhance user convenience and security. For example, a homeowner might receive a notification on their mobile device about a visitor at the front door and choose to unlock the door remotely. Alternatively, the system can take automatic actions, such as triggering lights to flash in response to a security alert, deterring potential intruders while also alerting neighbors.

“In the event that a UPS guy comes and hits the doorbell, I can release the door lock so he can put packages inside the door,” Keller says. 

More than that, a security system that is integrated with other smart home solutions can take security steps beyond simple notifications and actually help deter crimes in progress without any user interaction.

“AI-driven analytics and applications enable robust automation within the security industry and unlock new opportunities beyond traditional security applications, with smart sensors, such as cameras, assuming an increasingly important role as data sources,” Trinh says. 

For example, MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport), a standard IoT protocol, facilitates seamless communication between Axis IP devices and home automation systems. 

“Our goal at Axis is to provide tools and simple configuration of MQTT for our devices so customers can extract and filter metadata or events to integrate into other systems,” says Trinh.

The Future of AI in Security Systems

“The reality is that in the security business, we can’t stop crime, but we can deter crime,” says Keller, referencing technologies like Speco’s audible signal deterrent that is designed to ward off criminals before they complete their crime. 

Integrated AI-capable edge devices like cameras with larger-scale computing power in the cloud, the security industry can greatly expand its possibilities. 

“This transformation turns edge devices into powerful intelligence tools, opening new opportunities to reshape the video surveillance industry,” Trinh says. 

Looking ahead, Trinh says object detection and classification will be the new standard for all IP cameras with advancements in edge devices and metadata processing. Additionally, the industry is moving toward behavioral analysis and natural search capabilities, allowing users to gain deeper insights into patterns and trends in their video data, Trinh adds. 

In conclusion, AI is revolutionizing the way video surveillance systems operate, delivering more precise analytics, seamless integration, and enhanced capabilities that go beyond security. Whether it’s detecting and classifying objects, integrating with broader smart home systems, or using metadata for actionable insights, the role of AI in security is only set to grow.