Avigilon H4 Multi-Sensor Adds 32MP, H.265, Analytics

By Ethan Ace, Published Jun 13, 2018, 11:36am EDT

Avigilon has announced the H4 Multisensor, the successor to their repositionable multi imager line, adding features like H.265, integrated IR, higher resolution, smaller sensor modules, and more.

In this note, we look at the features of this new line, how it compares to existing models, and how it impacts Avigilon's positioning.

Four ***** ******* *********

*** ** *********** ** available ** * *** 4 ****** ********, ******* to ********'* **** ******, but **** ******* *** changes:

  • ****** ********** *******:** ******** ** *** sensors, *** *** *** models **** ** *********, as ****, ********** *** ********** from **** ** **** (4 * ***) ** the * ****** ******* and **** ** *** 3 ****** *****.
  • ********* ** *** ********:*** ****** **** ** capable ** ******* ********'* analytics ** *** ********, with ******* *** ********** ******. Previous ****** ******* *** only.
  • ********** **/************:*** ** *********** ******** 360° ** ************, **** a ********* *** *****, as **** ** ********'* "Lightcatcher" ***** *** ***** processing. **** ****** **** true ***/*****, **** ******* to ***** ******* *** light ***********.
  • ***** *.***:*** *********** **** ** Avigilon's ***** ***** ** ******* H.265, ** **** ** their **** ***** *****.

*** **** ****** ** the ****** *** **** changed ** ** **** flat, **** *** **** P3707 ** ********* ****, ***** 50% ***** **** ******** models ~**" **. *", but **** ***** *******.

Fixed ****** ****

****** **** ****** ***** used ********* ********* ******, the ** *********** **** instead ** ******** **** fixed ***** ****** ******, either **° ** **°, depending ** ***** *** configuration. ******** **** **** this **** ******* **** ** reduce ****** ****** ****, so ******* *** ** placed ****** ********.

*******/************

******** **** ******* **** ** ******** higher **** ******** ** Multisensor ******, ****** ** an ********* ****** ***** of ~$*,***-*,*** ***, ****** than **** *********** *******, though **** ********** ** both ********** *** *********.

*** ** *********** ** expected ** **** ** Q3 ****. ***** ****** do *** *********** ******* the ******** ** *********** line.

Key ********** **. ***********

*** ** *********** *** several **** ********** **** other ******:

  • *** ** ***********'* *** and *** ****** ******* are ****** **** **** other ************** ******, ***** generally *** ***** *******. Some ****** ********** ****** are *********, **** ** the **** ****** *** and ********* ****, *** these *** **** ******, and ***** ***** ** Avigilon's ** (*-******) *** 32MP (*-******) *******. *******, Panasonic's *********** *****-****** **** will **** *** ****** options.
  • ************, *** ************** ***** imager ******* ***** ********** IR. *** ********* **** (*** *** ****) *** **** *****-*** (not *** *********) ******* this **********, *** ***, if ***, ***** ****** are *********.
  • *******, *** ** ***********'* ability ** *** ***** self-learning ********* ** *** channels ** ******** ** multi ****** ******. **** allow **** *-* ******** to ** ********* *** none **** *** *********** track ****** **** ********'* analytics ****.

Fixed **** ************

*** ** ***********'* **** disadvantage ** *** ***** lens *******, ******* ** varifocal ******* ** *********** repositionable ******, **** ** Axis, ******, ** *********. This *** ** * limiting ****** ** ******** applications, ** ** ** 90 ****** ****** *** not **** *** * given ******'* ****** **** where ***** *** ****-**** the *** ***** ********* or ********* ******.

Competitive ******

**** **** ********** ********'* end-to-end *********, ** **********, the ******** ** ********* in ** *** ********, which **** ****** **** in ****** ******* (**** as **** ** ****** surveillance), ********** **** ******** in *********** **** **** / ****** / *********, Genetec, ***.  ********, ******** dealers *** ****** ** be ******* ** ***** new ***** ****** ****** and ***** ***** ********, especially *********** *** *** of *** ******* *********** line (****** * *****). 

*******, *** ** ***********'* broader ****** ** ******* by ********'* **** ** analytic *********** ** *****-***** VMS, ***** ***** ********* promoting *** **** ** their *** *** **** constrain *** ***** ** applications ***** ****** *****.

** **** ** **** these *** ***** ******** multi ****** ****** ** see *** **** *******.

Comments (25)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

06/13/18 03:59pm

Fixed Lens Disadvantage

While I agree that it is a disadvantage I have found that we rarely have a need for varifocal on these, with a handful of exceptions.

The Panasonic multi-head model shown at ISC follows a similar design logic but I do think it is more compact.

This model refresh has been long overdue.

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Undisclosed #2

06/13/18 08:33pm

That thing looks ugly. Show me the recess kit!

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 06/13/18 09:42pm

That thing looks ugly.

The strip between the IR ring and the dome could use some darkening.  However, look where the rest of the industry is at with freely positionable multi-imager cameras.  Aesthetics are the price that must be paid to have 1 location with 4 cameras.

Image result for arecont omni

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Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 06/16/18 03:54pm

Innovation, Design, Creativity, Ingenious, Visionary, Inspired, Inventive, Stimulating, Original and Artistic is the PRICE that needs to be paid.

Thanks for the photos of the other 4 imager cameras, they are all horrendously ugly.

Makes me feel they are rush to market products chasing competitive revenue.

How come we do not see cameras the same size of our cell phones. There are a lot of applications that a cell phone camera would work fine if it was to include the features needed in a CCTV application/environment.

Might as well bring back wooden console TVs with drawers.

Security technology is lacking, cannot wait for the comet to come.

 

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Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 06/16/18 04:43pm

I would love to see your design :)

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Undisclosed #2

In reply to Michael Miller | 06/16/18 05:54pm

For architecture and artistry I would use the hexagon and incorporate 7 imagers. One imager per side except for the mounted side. The 7th imager facing downward is 360° located in the center. Each camera has interchangeable edges which are see thru covers for the camera behind. The covers between vertices can be flat or convex pending the application. The imagers are 12mp+, same size as the one in your smart phone.

Conceptual size for this IPVM thread will be vertex to vertex edge is 2" x 3.5" with a 45° base side to bottom side angle. 

For design and visionary this camera will require LiFi to transmit data to the network. No coax, cat6, wifi needed.

Power is still required so I will need to invent a LV distribution pack. This plenum rated power supply can be adapted to existing lighting fixtures above ceiling to provide a radial power source for all IoT devices that might linger above the ceilings in the near future.

The cameras natively support an analytic mesh network where meta tagged objects in the video are assembly for 3d symmetry video and forensics.

Additional single and multi-lens images will exist in all shapes and sizes where camera imager placement and triangulation is accomplished by enrolling the dimensions of sought of an internal and external space or location into a software I will have to create that can perform the optimum mapping.

I think I fail on originality as this is still a camera, perhaps it needs my Alexa like abilities to also provide other services such as RTLS, AV, Notification, Access Control such as my virtual turnstile I posted in IPVM somewhere.

Thinking about this post makes me want all devices to be smart, so should all cameras running off of Android? Think of how much more a camera could do as a service. The world's devices will go smart and be multi-tasking robots needed to simplify modular systems all performing an individual task.

The camera and access control system should be one as a device and brought into every building everywhere. There is simplify not enough data we can synchronize to fulfill our curiosity and leisure.

The comet is coming!

 

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Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 06/16/18 11:55pm

96 megapixels over LiFi might require orthogonal frequency division multiplexing using violet gallium nitride LEDs.  

In stock at ADI.

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Ashley Schofield

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 06/19/18 01:08am

For architecture and artistry I would use the hexagon and incorporate 7 imagers. One imager per side except for the mounted side. The 7th imager facing downward is 360° located in the center.

You just described the Dallmeier Panomera W8...

 

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Michael Miller

In reply to Ashley Schofield | 06/19/18 01:11am

Does that have analytics?

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Ashley Schofield

In reply to Michael Miller | 06/21/18 12:41am

Not that I am aware of... but the next model probably would as the single sensor Dallmeier cameras are now shipping with analytics inbuilt

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Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ashley Schofield | 06/19/18 02:41am

You just described the Dallmeier Panomera W8...

It looked better on paper ;)

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 06/19/18 10:49am

I can see Elizabeth Holmes is looking to disrupt the security industry...

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Damith Jayasinghe

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 06/20/18 03:51am

No all the Avigilon dealers were waiting for this model well done.

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Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 06/16/18 04:59pm

How can you have a fair ironic beauty contest without Mobotix?

 

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 06/19/18 12:58am

Mobotix hasn’t been on my radar for a decade.  I wasn’t even aware they had a multi-head.  Good find.

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Randy Lines

06/15/18 04:26pm

What is the minimum FOV of all 4 cameras. Can I move the sensors together to get 4*45 or 180 degree FOV or are they fixed so I have 360 FOV but significant blind spot under the camera.

Sorry in advance if this is obvious ;)

rbl

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Michael Miller

In reply to Randy Lines | 06/16/18 01:20pm

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Randy Lines

06/16/18 04:59pm

Thanks Michael :) 

I saw this but still don't totally get it. Would be helpful if they said that all 3 graphics apply to both cameras?

Simple question ... what is the minimum FOV I can achieve with the 3 sensor and 4 sensor camera. Is it limited by the maximum focal length or the physical lens bumping into each other.  For example a 3 lens unit with each lens set to 8mm (32.5 degrees) might suggest I could have a 97.5 degree FOV with no blind spot (in the horizontal).  

The graphic suggests that a minimum of 60 degree FOV is possible. 

Thanks again for your contributions :)

rbl

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Kevin Bennett

In reply to Randy Lines | 06/20/18 03:26pm

I think the minimum FOV will be determined by how closely those imager heads will come together. 

I was excited about the current H3 line when they first came out, but soon found they were not as versatile as we had hoped.  The heads are huge and will not come very close together.   Hopefully they have resolved that issue on these. 

The higher resolution imagers that will be available with the H4 line may be the compromise for not having a vari-focal lens. 

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Michael Miller

In reply to Kevin Bennett | 06/20/18 03:30pm

I don't see a need for vair-focal lenses.  We never used them with the H3 version and without them, there is less to go wrong in the cameras.

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Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Michael Miller | 06/20/18 04:50pm

We never used them with the H3 version and without them, there is less to go wrong in the cameras.

Did they “go wrong” often in the H3?  

Do you prefer fixed lenses in general?

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Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 06/20/18 05:09pm

Vari-focal lenses have issues with vibration and power loss with all cameras I have seen.  When cameras reboot sometimes they don't come back into focus without manual intervention. . With multi-imager cameras, a smaller head is preferred so you can more flexibility in aiming the imagers.  

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Kevin Bennett

In reply to Kevin Bennett | 06/20/18 03:45pm

For 8MP imagers (or even 5MP in some use cases) I agree.  At the old 3MP resolution we use the vari-focal on almost all of the H3 devices we have deployed to set the FOV and get suitable PPF.

For some reason, that old Naughty By Nature song just jumped in my head . . .

"You down with PPF?

--Yeah, you know me.

Who's down with FOV?

--All the techies."

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Matt Alvey

04/25/19 07:30pm

Exacq's website shows only 3 Avigilon cameras being tested and integrated.

Does anybody know if Avigilon's H4 multisensor camera will actually work on Exacq?  Was there a test of this on IPVM that I was not able to find?

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Matt Alvey | 04/25/19 07:36pm

We haven't yet tested the H4 multisensor. Our order shipped wrong and we're working on getting it straightened out. I'm hoping to have the replacement camera in hand soon so we can wrap this up.

In our test of the older HD multisensor, that camera added to Exacq, but it used a license for each imager and VMD didn't work at the time.

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