Security & Safety Things launches second App Challenge for development of creative customer solutions

Security & Safety Things has announced the launch of its second App Challenge to spur additional creative development in video analytic applications. Participating developers now have the opportunity to submit proposals for apps designed to address specific security, safety and business optimisation use cases in the retail, transportation, sports stadiums, entertainment and healthcare verticals.

The apps will be designed to run on smart cameras using the Security & Safety Things open camera operating system and the open Internet of Things platform, which enables cameras to run a variety of applications simultaneously to perform different functions. The camera OS is based on the developer-friendly Android Open Source Project.

“While many vertical markets share a core set of operational needs, individual organisations also have unique requirements based on the nuances of their location, customer base or other circumstances,” explained Adam Wynne, head of the Security & Safety Things Innovation Accelerator based in Pittsburgh. “We are calling on the collective creativity and unique perspectives of the developer community to help solve distinct customer challenges, whether that’s a standalone solution or one based on a combination of different applications.”

• 

Different use cases

For this year’s challenge, a variety of systems integrators responded to a Security & Safety Things survey asking for customer needs and challenges in four vertical market categories. Based on this feedback, developers will be tasked with creating innovative video analytics applications to address a host of different use cases, including:

*Unmanned aerial detection for drones and other flying objects in stadiums or during large events

*Suspicious behaviour analytics for the detection of fighting or stealing

*Customer conversion and ‘out of stock’ analytics in retail spaces

*Cargo protection for the detection of vandalism and theft in car parks and other facilities

*Hygiene and PPE checks in healthcare facilities, as well as anomaly detection for unusual behaviour in Care Homes

Three winners will be chosen by an invited panel of 20 prominent integrators and awarded individual prizes. Winners will also be invited to showcase their solution at the Security & Safety Things stand at escon 2021 (depending on the COVID-19 situation). All participating developers will be able to benefit from various co-marketing opportunities with Security & Safety Things throughout the duration of the challenge.

The winning apps from the 2020 App Challenge provided solutions for retail and commercial buildings, transportation and Smart Cities, manufacturing and also logistics categories. Overall, the challenge resulted in 20-plus new applications being added to the Security & Safety Things Application Store.

Timeline for entries

Developers can submit multiple proposals for more than one vertical by 26 April. Proposals will be reviewed and the most promising will be chosen by the panel to proceed with development. Developers will have from 29 April until 31 July to create their solution(s).

Once developed, the apps will need to be uploaded to the Application Store by 31 July. Security & Safety Things and the panel will test and review the apps.

Winners will be selected by the end of August.

*Developers can apply by submitting their proposals online at: https://info.securityandsafetythings.com/app-challenge

Security & Safety Things “sparks new era” in video surveillance with commercial availability of supported cameras

Security & Safety Things is “set to reshape innovation in video analytics and computer vision” with the commercial availability of a number of new IP security cameras from a variety of vendors that leverage the Security & Safety Things open and secure Internet of Things platform. This new generation of security cameras will employ the free Security & Safety Things camera operating system, which enables the cameras to run multiple Artificial Intelligence-enabled applications in parallel.

The apps automate the analysis of video data to produce valuable operational intelligence for business optimisation as well as provide easy-to-deploy tools that can aid in re-opening measures from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Organisations of all sizes around the world need flexible and easy-to-deploy solutions that enable compliance with constantly changing pandemic-centric Health and Safety mandates and provide future value to ramp up and optimise their ongoing business operations,” stated Hartmut Schaper, CEO of Security & Safety Things.

He continued: “Companies can now deploy cameras running the Security & Safety Things operating system and use a selection of apps from our Application Store to detect the absence of facial coverings in a retail environment. The next day, that same camera can help the same retailer optimise merchandise placement based on store footfall, in one store or throughout the enterprise, along with further optimisations.”

First camera manufacturer

This month, Qisda/Topview will be the first camera manufacturer to launch a camera running the Security & Safety Things operating system, followed in quick succession by AndroVideo, who will also start shipping its own Security & Safety Things-enabled cameras in Q2.

Bosch is making its INTEOX camera line available as of July followed by Vivotek and BSTsecurity, who plan to ship a bit later in Q3. The first devices from Hanwha Techwin that run the Security & Safety Things operating system are expected to be commercially available in Q4. Security & Safety Things, Hanwha Techwin, Vivotek, Bosch, Qisda/Topview and AndroVideo are all members of the Open Security and Safety Alliance.

The free Security & Safety Things operating system is built on the Android Open Source Project. It leverages the expanding processing and analytic power of modern IP cameras to exponentially increase the amount of operational intelligence that can be mined from traditional IP-based surveillance footage.

The applications that can be installed on these cameras, both in an on-premise as well as a remote setting, are created by highly specialised third party developers and available through the platform’s open Application Store. This already features more than 50 applications from more than 35 developer partners, with more than 30 additional apps expected to be available the store very soon.

Typical use cases

In addition to pandemic applications, use cases include the detection of weapons, behavioural analysis, payment systems for garages, drone threat detection and even identifying objects presented for purchase in a cash register transaction for cashier-free retail environments.

Together with some of its camera and system integration partners, Security & Safety Things is already running projects in a live setting. These projects use, for example, heat mapping and queue analysis in retail stores and automated payment processing and license plate recognition for barrier-free traffic.

These types of applications are running in pilots with the parking management solutions provider Peter Park as well as with the leading mobility provider SIXT.

*More information about the Security & Safety Things platform and how businesses can benefit from the platform can be found at www.securityandsafetythings.com

**For an overview of the Artificial Intelligence video apps currently available for the Security & Safety Things-supported cameras, the Application Store may be viewed at https://store.securityandsafetythings.com