Arecont Vision, a maker of IP-based megapixel cameras, has added PlateSmart to its Technology Partner Program. The Los Angeles company announced the move on December 6, 2017. PlateSmart builds Automatic Vehicle Recognition (AVR) solutions based on Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR). Arecont Vision megapixel cameras have now passed integration testing with PlateSmart’s ARES software.
PlateSmart CEO John Chigos said the company was glad to join the Arecont Vision ecosystem. Because the cameras deliver high image quality, he explained, the software can watch a wider field of view. It still reads the license plate, the state and the vehicle make accurately.
According to the companies, the newest ARES version pulls more data from video than any rival ALPR product. Its ARES Insights module adds a reporting center for business intelligence. That center turns vehicle data into on-demand intelligence that users can act on. The tool runs on artificial intelligence and deep machine learning. It is billed as the first true application for situational awareness.
No lock-in for customers
Jeff Whitney is vice president of marketing at Arecont Vision. He said the PlateSmart validation gives shared customers a stronger solution. PlateSmart already works with many video management software (VMS) platforms that hold Arecont Vision MegaLab certification. As a result, customers can pick the VMS they prefer, he said. They are not tied to an ALPR system with proprietary software and cameras.
Arecont Vision offers a wide range of single and multi-sensor megapixel cameras made in the USA. Every model uses the company’s own Massively Parallel Image Processing (MPIP) architecture, so new features can be added as they appear. The design also improves cybersecurity, since it stops the camera from being hijacked for attacks on other network devices.
Under the partner program, the two companies set up sales, development and support contacts to work more closely with end users. Arecont Vision cameras now sit in the PlateSmart test lab, while ARES runs in the MegaLab test and certification facility.
Arecont Vision’s MegaVideo and SurroundVideo architectures are in their fifth generation and break sharply from traditional analog and network camera designs. PlateSmart developed the first software-only AVR and video analytics tools that work with both new and older cameras. Its mobile and fixed systems can run alone or connect to third-party hardware and software. They have also won several industry awards for security technology.