CRI 180MP "Immersive Imaging System" + CEO Interview
In 2013, IPVM interviewed DHS on its ISIS (Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance) project, and now, after a decade of testing, a US company, CRI, is aiming to commercialize this.
In this report, we profile CRI based on our visit to its booth at ISC East and our interview with the President, Nathan Crawford. Inside this profile, we discuss:
- Background
- Valuation
- Headcount
- Technology Background
- Gen 1 Vs. Gen 2
- Controls And Web Interface
- Stitching
- Price
- Target Customers And Deployed Units
- Analytics
- VMS Integrations
- Guardian iiS Vs. Substitutes
- Limited Digital Presence
- Outlook
Executive *******
***** ***'* ****** ****** ***** ** useful *** ***** ************* ** ** allows *** ***** *********** ********* ***** its ** *.*** ******* *** ******** controls (*********, ********, ***.), ***** *** a *** *********** *********** **** *** limit *** ********, ********* (** ************ order):
- *** ********* ** *****-**** ******** ****-****** substitutes
- **** ***** (~$***,*** *** *** ***** with ** ******* *** ***-****** ***)
- ****** ** ** ***** ***********
- ** ******* *** ************
- **** "***********" (**** ********, ****** ********, etc.) *********
*** **** **** **** **** (*) are ******* **** * *** ***** analytics ***********, (*) ****** ************* **** VMS *************, (*) *** ****** ** reduce *** ***** ** **%, *** (4) ******* ** ******** *** ******* presence.
*** ***** **** ***********, *** *** get ******* *********** ********* **** ******** multi-imager *** *** ******* ** ******, however, **** ************* *** ** ****** to ****** *** *******.
**********
*** ******* *** ******* ** **** by****** ********, *** *********, ** *** ** "operations ******* ******* ** ********* ********* airborne *******", ***** *********** ***** **** CRI ***** ** "***** ** * service" ** *** ******* ******** ** gyrostabilized *********, *** ****, *** ****** the ****. *** **** ** ************ that ***** **** *** *** ** national ************, *** *** ****** **** to ***** *****-***** ************ ** *****************, as ********* ******** **** ****:
** *** *** ******* ** ***** ago, *** ** **** **** **an ********** ******* ******* ** ********* *******, *** ** **** ********* [******* **] ******** *******. And we *** ****** **** ********** *** ******** ****. So this would be on the Department of Defense side mainly, but we also worked for the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, and a bunch of others, including the DHS. And **** ** ** ** **** **** *** ********** ********* ***** ******* *** ** *** ******** **** *** ***** ***** **** ** *** **** *****. And so we try to move from TRL level 2 or 3 up to 5 or 6 in a single fiscal cycle [TRL - Technology Readiness Level] [emphasis added]
****** **** *******, *** ***** ********* invest ** **** ** ***** ************ and ** ***** *** *&*, ** CRI **** ****:
***** *** ***,we *** ******* ************ **** ** ****** ****, *** ** ** ***** ** ****** ** ****. So we'll do our own independent R&D and start moving stuff along - either apply for technology transfer or we'll simply carve a whole new direction that we've learned off of the process [emphasis added]
*** *******, ***'* "********* ******* ******" Guardian *** ********** **** *** **** between******* ********* ******** **********(****),***'* ******* **********, ***, *** ***, *** *** CRI **** *** ** *** *** technology, ** *** **** ****.
Headcount, *********** ****
*** **** *** **** * ******** company ****, *** *** *******'* ********* said **** *** ******* *** "**** than ** *********", ********* ** "**-*****" and "****** **" ** ***** **********. For *** *********** ****, *** *** 9 ********* (**** ** ***** *** on * ******** *****), ** ** said:
CRI ********* *** * ********* ** ***** *** * ** ******** ** ******. Their disciplines are as follows: two electrical/Systems, two software, one mechanical, one mathematical on staff [plus] one mechanical, one software, and one electrical on contract. All [with] at least 10 years time in discipline, with several over 30 years in discipline. Mostly on tier-one avionics systems for aerial ISR. [emphasis added]
$600,000 ****** ** $* ******* *********
**** ****, *** ******* ****** $***,*** at * $* ******* ********* **** an *********** '**** ***** ****', ** it ** ********* *** ****** *********** rounds, ********* ** ***'* *********:
We *** **** ** * ***** ********** **** **** ****. That is really more for us moving **** ********* *** * ****** ***** *, *, *** *, ** ******* **************, *** *'* ***** **% owner of the company. And so we basically went into that 10% process to bring in a West Coast banker who will actually set us up to and handle all of our negotiations for future investment transactions.
The ******* ********** *** ** ** ****** $* ******* ** *****. So it [the investment] was 600k or whatever it was. [emphasis added]
** ***** **** *** ******* ** "definitely ******* *** *********" *** *** not ********* ** **** ** ***** to **** *********** ****** ** *** much ** ***** ** *****.
Guardian "********* ******* ******" (******** ***)
*** **** **** **** "***** ***" comes ******* ** *** ****-****** **** (******* System *** ********* ************). ******** *** ** * *********** of ********* ******* (** ** **, depending ** *** *************) **** ******* focal ******* (*-****) **** ******* *** stitched ***** **** ***-******+ *-*** *** up ** ***-****** ***.
*** **** ***** ***** ******** *** concept ** *** ******:
*** ******* ***** ***** *** ****-**** appearance ** *** *******'* ******:
*** ****** **** *** **** *** moving *****, *** ** *** ******* with ********* ***** *******, ******** *** operator ** **** ******* ****** *** resolution ** *** *****:
So, ** ***'** ******* ****** *** ******* **, **'** **** ******** ** *** **** ******. So we keep getting a new resolution wall every time you step further down that road. And so the nice thing about this with these two systems [two generations], and they're both really very similar from a functionality perspective, is thatthere's ** ****** *****. **'* *** ***** *****. There are no zoom lenses; there's no pan and tilt. We had one head out there now over three and a half years without a single failure of any kind. So ****'** ********* ********. [emphasis added]
** *** **-****** *****, ******** *** is ******** **** * "*****" ********** cameras **** *** ** ********** ********* to *** ***-**** *******, ** *** told ****:
For ***-****** [*****], **** ***** ** *** ** *******, *** ** *** ********* * *** ***** **** *** ***** *********. They are probably not branded yet, but we **** **** "******," *** *********, ****'** ********** [*******]. So additional focal lengths down certain paths in the overall field of view that the customer has expressed they want to be able to do
** ******* ** ***-***** ************, ******** uses "************ ********* ** *** ******* and ** ************," ** *** ******* told **.
** *** *** ***** ****, ***** is ***** * **** **** *** systems ********* ***** ******, *** ******** at **** (** ** ****** *** second) *** ** "*************" **** ****** frame *****:
**** ******* ********* ******* ** ** Hz. ** *** ************* **** * system **** *** **** ** ** 60Hz.
** ***'* ************** **** **** ** ISC ****, *** "***** ****" *** their ******* ** ***-*** **** ****, and ***** ***** *** ******* ******* 30-35 **** ***** *** ******.
Two ***********
*** *** *** *********** ** *** Guardian ****** **** *** ************** ** (1) *** ****** ******, (*) *** camera **********, (*) ********** *****, (*) physical **********, *** (*) *****. *** table ***** ********** *** *********** ******* the ***:
*** ******* ** *** ****** ********** cores ** *** ****** ********** ** cut *** ********* (*** *** **** to ******** *** **** ****** ** 2x ******** ** *** ***** **********, despite ****** **** *******) *** ******* some ***** ********* ** *** ****, as *** ********* **** **:
*** ** **** ** *** **** 40 *******, ******* *** ********** ***** of ***** **** ***** *******-****,but **'* ********* **** *** **** ****** ** *** ***** ********** ******* ** *** *********** *** ** *** ****. [emphasis added]
** *** ******** ********** *** ****** placements, ********* ******** **** **** **** they "*****'* ****** **** ** *** final ********** ************* ** *** ****** yet."
Controls *** *** *********
******** *** *** * *** ********* that *** ** **** ** ****** the ******* ** **** ****, ***** objects ** *** ***, ****, ****** between ******** ******* *******, ***., ** a *-****** ******** ** *** ** below *****:
*********, ***** ** * ******* ***** from *** ****:
*********
** ******** **** ** *** ******* is *** ******* ** ****** *** images **** ********* *******, ***, ********* to *** ***'* *********, **** ************* the ********** ** **** *********:
They *****, ****, * *** **** **** ** **** ******* ********. But if you're going to ask for automation and you're talking about stitching in X, Y, and also stepping in Z and have automation. It's **** **** ** ** **** ********* *******.It's **** ****** ** ** ** *** **** * ***** ********** ***** *****, *** ****'* **** ******** *** ** ****** *****. [emphasis added]
************, *** **** **** **** **** could ******* *** ***** ******** **** times ****** **** *** ********* ***********, as ** **** *** ******* "* minutes" ** ****** * ***** *** the *** **** **** ********, ***** they ****** **** ** ***** **** "about * ****" *** ******** ****:
The ****** ***** ****** ******** *** ** *** ****** ***** *** *** ***** *** **** *** ** **** ****l. So it's one thing to set up a model initially. So at the ISC East, we ended up doing a total of five model samples. If it was anybody else doing that kind of space, on average,it ***** ***** * **** ** ** *** ** *** **** ********* *** *** ** ***** *** **** *****. We've mastered it to the point whereit ***** ** * ******* ** ** **** ********, and we may do that through different light cycles. ... So I think anybody who's complying just slaps he has some cameras and says, Hey, I'm going to stitch them is going to meet the challenges that we've been known on already for a couple of years in [emphasis added]
*****
** * ******* ***** ** $**,***-$***,*** per ****, ******** *** **** **** financial ***** **** *** ***** ********** use, *******, *** ******* ***** ** reduce *** ***** ** ~**% **** they ***** **** **********, ** ***'* President **** ****:
*** **** ***** **** **** **** with ** ***** ****** ** ****** another **% ********* ** ****.
** **** ***** **** ***** *** price ********* ** ********* * ***-**** purchase *** *** ** ***** **** the ******** ** ** ****, **** might ****** ** *** ******. *** rationale *** * ***-****-******** ***** ***** now ** ** **** ***** ********:
I ***** **'** ***** ** ** ********** ** **** **'** *** ***** *** ****** ****** ********* ***** **** *** ** ***** **** **, recording is built in, and the low-end automation is already built in. Maybe ***** ** **** ***** *** **** *** ****** ** ****** ** ** *** *** ****** ** *** ******** ** **** * ******* ***. But right now, we're ******* *** ***** ******** and people who are willing to be part of the ODA loop (observe-detect-act). We need to have a tight coupling with our customers and get feedback from them so we can basically make improvements on the fly with the system [emphasis added]
Target ********* *** ******** *****
*** ******* ***** ************* **** *** Guardian ***, *** *******, ********, *******, etc., *** ** ****, *** ******* has ******** * ***** (*** ** which *** ** *** ******* ******** Stadium (***** *****).
*** *** *** *** ******** ********** 1 **** ********* ** *** **** of *** ***** ********** ****** ****.
***'* ********* **** **** **** **** have * ******** ****** *** *** that "***** ** ***" ******** ****** "all *** *** ********." (*** ***** are ********** ** ** ******** ******** events, ** *** ** ******** ** security *** **** ******):
** ********** ******* **** * ******** inside ******** ******** **** ***** ** put **** ****** *** *** *** stadiums.
**, *******, *** *** ******* *** details ** **** *** ******* ** close *** **** ****.
"Rudimentary" *********
** *** ****, *** **** **** that **** ********* **** **** * "few *********** *********" (********* **** ********, animal *********, ****** ********, ***.) *** are *** ***** ** "******** *** wheel" *** *** ******* ** ******* with ** ********* **********. ********* ******** told **** **** ***** *** **** undisclosed ***** ********* *********** "*********" ** partner **** ***, ** ** ****:
So ** **** **** ********* ** ********* **** *** **** ** *********, they have raw data from our imaging system. And **'** ***** *** *** ******* *** **** **** ***** ***** *********. Two of them are well established, have been going [analytics] for 15-20 years, and have very mature AI models. [emphasis added]
*******, ** **** ***** **** ***** "is ***** **** **** * ***********" of *** ******* ***** *** *********, as **** **** ******** ********* **********, such ** ****, **** **** **** to *** **** *************:
But ***** ** ***** **** **** * *********** ** ** ******* *** *** [*********] ** ****. I was surprised by how much functionality we got out of YOLO, amongst other things, so it *** ******** ****** **** ** *** **** **** ******* ************* *** ** **. [emphasis added]
*** ********** ** ******* ********* ** CRI ******* ** *** ***** **** of *** ********* *****, *** *** is ************* **** ********* ** **** architecture, ** ********* ******** *********:
There's ** *** **** *** ****** *** ** ******** *** ** * ****** **-********* *****. It's * **** ***** ***** ** **** **. And so, we've heard some discussion, but not quite the way we've put it down, which is the whole hierarchy of AIs. So I may have a mini AI looking at a little area that is 500 by 500, or maybe 1k by 1k chunk of data that I have it doing very specific thing: maybe it's an entry control point, maybe it's a choke point, etc. .. So there are [other] scenarios where I can have AIs, look at the exact same chip out, doing different things, having them report up to a higher AI, and then so on. [emphasis added]
No ******* *** ************
*** **** **** ***** ** ******** from *** ********* ** **** **** CRI ** **** "**** ** ****** per ******" *** ** *** ******** Guardian *** * ****** ******, *******, since *** ****, ******** ********* **** that **** *** ********** ** ********** with ***, ********* ** *** *********:
The ******* ** **** ** ** ** *** *** ** **** **** ** ****** *** ******, *** ** **** **** ** ** ******* ** ***** **** **** *** *** **** ** ********* ******* ****** ** * ****** ****** that goes through its data in a different kind of way. So ***, **'** *** *** ** ***** ** *** ***** *** ***** **** ** **, ********** ***** *** ****, and said: "Yes, we're interested". I won't give out their names, but they are interested. So *****'* * ****** **** ** *** **** ******* ******* **** **** ******* ***** ** *** ************** and that they're willing to go ahead and institute this type of imaging system. [emphasis added]
** ******* ** ** **** **/**** CRI **** ********* **** *** *******, but *** **** ** ********* ************ can ************* **** *** ********.
Not ******* ** ******* ********** *******
*** ** *** ******* ** ******* existing ********** ******* *** ****** ******* them, ** *** ******* **** **:
We **** ** ******* *** ***** ******* *** *** *** ******* ** **** **** ** *** ********** **** ******* **** **** ** *****. And that's currently what we do on the stadiums and on the different tests we've done is augment or support or be a foundational bit of information behind that system. [emphasis added]
***** ******** *** ** * ******** system, *** **** **** **** ***** on *** ******** **** ****'** ******** from ****-**** *************, ** ** **** used ** * "**** *** **********," allowing **** ** "************ ****** *** facility *********," ********* *** *** ***** beyond ********:
***** ***, *** ******* ******* ** that, ***,we *** ** * ******** ******, but what we find that people tend to do is that this ******* * **** *** ********** ** ****. Because it's a browser-based viewer and if you can pull up the image on their iPad, they can go in and move around and manipulate the data without affecting the capture at all. And ** ** ****** **** ** ************ ********** ****** ***** ******** *********, ******* ****** ** ** ******* * ***** **** ** * *** ******* ***** *** ****** ******** and say: "Hey, can you tilt that camera over here?" [emphasis added]
Cheaper ***********
** * ********/************ ********, ******** *** has * *** ******* ***********, *** example, * ****** ** ******** *******, multi-imagers *** *** *******, *** ******** drones. *******, ***** **** ***** *********** in **** ********** ************* *** ********** and ********* ***** ******* ******* (********** with ********* *******).
*** ********* **** ******** *** ** that "** ******* *** ****** *****, all *** ****", ** ******* ** PTZ *******, ***** **** *** *****/*****/****, they **** ********* ***** **** ** happening ** ***** ******* ** ***** attention ** *** ***** ***** ** time, ** *** ********* ****:
GiiS ** ********* **** *** ** **** ** ******* *** ****** *****, *** *** ***e. The operator can PTZ through the entire field of view without impacting the native recording, including going back in time and PTZing in post-forensics. [emphasis added]
*********, *** ****** **** **** ******, one **** ***** *** ** "***********". Moreover, ** ***** **** *** *** already *** *** ********* ******* ******* on ******** ******:
** *** ********* ******* ****** ****'* already **** *** ** ** ******** drones.So ********** *** *** ** *** ****** **** **'** **** **** ******** ***, **'** ******** ******* **** ** ******. [emphasis added]
Limited ******* ********
*** ** *** *********** *********** ** CRI *** *** ******* ** ****** widely ******* ** *** ******* ******* presence *** ********** *** ***** ***********. As *** ******* **** *** **** corporate ******** *** **** *** ****** in ************ *********, **'* ***** ** take **** ** ***** ********* ***** Guardian ***.
***'* ********* **** **** **** **** are ***** ** ****** ** ********* but **** ** ** ******* "*** to *** ** *** ***** **** of **********" *** *** ********* *** capabilities:
**'** *** ****** ** ********* ****** come ** ** ** *** *** say: "***, ** ***** ** **** for ***, *** ** *** ****** launch **** *******."And ** *** ********** ***** ** ** ***** ****. *** * ***** ** **** ** ** ** ** * *** **** ** ***'* *** ** ** *** ***** **** ** *** ********** **** ******* *** *****. We've watched it happen on IPVM when people get a little far over their skis and make claims and do activities that, in the end, don't reflect well on the industry. And so we're cognitive of that, and you'll see us try to learn from that as we go. [emphasis added]
ISC ****, *** ****
*** ******* **** ** **** *** East *** ***'* ***** ******* ** testing *** ****** **** *** ********** offerings, *** **% ** *** ******** from ********* *** "**** ********." *** company's ***** ** *** **** *** moderate **** *******.
*** **** **** **** *** ******* plans ** ** ** *** *** West ** ****.
* ******* *** ****** ** ***** guys ** *** **** ** ****.
* **** **** ********* **** **********:
**'** ******* ** ****** ** **** when ****** *** * ****** *** over ***** **** *** **** ****** and ** ********** ****, ** *** end, ***'* ******* **** ** *** industry. *** ** **'** ********* ** that, *** ***'** *** ** *** to ***** **** **** ** ** go.
* **** ** ********* ** **** are ***** ** **** ******** ** another *-* *****. **** ** *** because *** ******* ***'* ****, *** because * **** **** *** *** impression **** ***** ******** ** "********* in *** ******** ***** ** ***** it *****, *** ***** *** ** products ** ***** ** ****". **** I ********* **** ******* ** ********, Axis, *** ****** **** ********** ******* in ***** ****** ******* (**: ********) the ********* * *** ****'* **** me **** **** *** *** * grasp ** *** ******* *** *** user ****** ******* *** * ******* like ****.
******** *** ********* **** **** ********* than *** ******* ****** *** ** this ********, * *****.
**** **** **** **** ********** **********, but **** **** ** ** ***** of **** ***, *** *** ***, worked *** ******, *******, ********, ******, Avigilon, *******, *** ******.
(****: * ******* ******* ****, *** making ** *********** ** *** ** well). *'* *** ****** ** **** the *******, *** ***** ** *********** with **** *** ********* **** ******** else.
** ***** ** ** **** *** 2 ** * **** **** *** version ** ******* **** **** ***** you *** **** *** ********* *** still **** ******* ** *** *** when ******. ******* *********** ******* **** to *** ** ** ** **** with ***** ****** *** **** ** digital ****. *** ****** **** ** critical. ** ***** **** *** *********** can **** ****** **** **** ***** (as **** ** **** ****** *** stitching *****). **** ***** **** ***** be * *** ****** **** *** since ** ***** *** ** ****** cams /******* **** ********/****** ******* *********** players *** ****** ** ****** **** key ********* *********)
********* *** *** ****** ** ** off *** ***** ********/****/****** ** *** the **** *****, ***. ***** ***** are *** ***** *** ****** ******* projects. *** *** **** *** ** customized **** ********* *******, ******, ***. for **** ***********. **'* **** **** flexible, *** **** ** ***** ********* and ***********.
** *** ** ********* ** **** a *****, ****** ************ ******* **** this ******* *** *********** ******** *******. Most *********** **** ** **** *** this, *** **** ****** ***'* **** bother ** *** *** **** ** into * *** ******* ** ***** into *** **** **** ** ***** and *******. *** ** ******, **** is ******** ****'** **** ***** ** it ** *** ***** *****.
*** ** ***** ** **** * ton ** ****** ****** **** ** do ** *** *** ***** *** users *** ******* ******** *********** **** this *****. **** ***** *+ *****, IME, *** * *** ** ******** (and *****).
*** *** ******* *** ** ** after ** ******* ***** *** ** had * **** **********. ***** *** the *** * ****** ** ** ISCE ****'* *** *** (*** ** an ******** ** *** *******). **** companies **** ** *** *****, ***** is *** * ********* **** ***** not ** ****** ** * ****** of *****, *** * ***** *** CEO ********** **** ***** ****** **** the ***** *********.
*** *** ********* ***** *** *** architecture ******** ** *** **** ***, there *** ******* *********** *******, ** noted *********. *** ******** **, *** those ********* ****** ** ******* * stand ***** *******?
* **** *** ***** - ******** vs ******** - ***** *** **** a ***** ******
******, *********** ******!
***** * *** *********, ** ** worth ****** **** ** ** *** process ** ******* ************ ** ******* ******** ******(**** ******* ** *** *** * CRI ******), *** ***** ******* - eight ******* ** *** ****, ** to **-****** *** ** *** ******* series, *********, *** *** ************ *********, and ** **** ** ~$*,***-$**,*** *** depending ** *** *************.
** **** ** *********** ** *** how **** **** ********, ** ******* faces *********** *********** ** **** ***** but **** **** ******** **** ******** good-enough ************ ** * ***** ***** and ********** *** ***** ***********, **** marketing / ********, ***.
** *** ********* ****, *********** (*** *** ********* ******)*** ******* ** *** ************ **** talked ** **** ***** / **** are ** ***** *******, **** **** have ** ********* ** *** ******** they *** *********.
********?