Mobotix Thermal Body Temperature Detection Examined

By Ethan Ace, Published Apr 07, 2020, 01:46pm EDT (Info+)

Mobotix has jumped into the Coronavirus temperature detection market, but how do they compare to thermal incumbents like FLIR or ICI who have been developing these systems for over a decade?

In this report, we examine Mobotix's thermal body temperature offerings, detection and accuracy claims, and their outlook vs. competitors.

Mobotix ******* ********

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Optris ***** ****

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***, *** "****" ******* *******, ***** complex ************** **** ** **** ******* day.

Comments (18)

Jeremy Ellis

04/07/20 07:09pm

If it is comparable to their LPR claims, be warned.

Mobotix Definition Guide:

With Optimization = hundreds of hours in front of a customer demonstrating that you oversold a product that will not be able to do what the glossy brochure said it can do.

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Joe Byron

In reply to Jeremy Ellis | 04/07/20 07:40pm

Hi Jeremy: We have recently increased our online e-campus trainings, certifications and webinars to expand the knowledge base of our price-competitive thermal solutions along with our other product offerings. Please take a look: Training Calendar | MOBOTIX AG Online Courses

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Mark Heintzman

In reply to Jeremy Ellis | 04/08/20 07:57pm

Jeremy, If you are actually interested in learning and hearing about the technology we are offering here then contact me VIA linkedin. I can explain it in detail and demonstrate it as well as I have the solution setup at my house.

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Undisclosed End User #1

04/07/20 08:29pm

Marketing devices without FDA clearance in the US is risky, as FDA enforcement has resulted in product recalls and fines in past cases.

It's very risky.

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Undisclosed #2

04/08/20 02:42pm

I saw this video and I was like "this red face detection frame looks fake"....

And you know what? It is fake xD it stick out of the "recorded" video. I commented about this on their facebook page - but video and my comment vanished suddenly :P

They stated that NETD is <50mK and it's so powerful compered do 100mK (I havent seen <100mK thermal cameras in years TBH) so I asked them about aperture of thermal lens they offer, because there is no information about it in datasheet.

What you can find in datasheet, is the information that camera itself is <79mK. This means that they use F1.25 lens. So NETD is 2x worse comparing to Hikvisions or Sunell. This is what I call pure marketing and misleading information.

Also, I need to dig dipper, because I have quotations from last year for M16TB model with 8mm lens, and there is info that this particular lens is F1.8 and that means that NETD is <170mK!!! But I need to make sure.

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Mark Heintzman

04/08/20 08:07pm

If anyone on this thread is interested in actually learning or hearing about the solution we are providing our customers, contact me VIA linkedIN. I understand that Mobotix documentation can be difficult to follow and there may be things out there that do not add up in terms of documentation (I am not condoning that) but if your actually wanting to speak with someone who has setup this solution and implemented it then contact me so we can talk about the solution and how it may be of value. Also, I am not interested in the continuous threads that pick apart everything said by each other so please do not bother responding to me here in that manner as I do not think its productive, I am only interested in speaking about the solution with people who are serious about hearing about it. Thanks! Mark

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Mark Heintzman | 04/08/20 09:26pm

I am not interested in the continuous threads that pick apart everything said by each other

Mark, Mobotix should develop better products and it wouldn't get so picked apart - Mobotix 7 Line Camera Tested

That said, what are you seeing in the field with deployments of Mobotix for elevated body temperature detection? How well does it work? Any tips on making it work?

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Mark Heintzman

In reply to John Honovich | 04/08/20 09:38pm

Thanks for the input John and the example of what I just explained. If you would like to learn more about it, as I said feel free to contact me. Knight has my number or you can contact me on linkedIN.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Mark Heintzman | 04/08/20 11:40pm

example of what I just explained. If you would like to learn more about it, as I said feel free to contact me

What a counterproductive response. Your products work poorly and who's fault is it? Mine?

If you have something productive to add, add it. I need to contact you on LinkedIn? If it's working great in your territory just say it and build some confidence in what you are offering.

Mark, the fact that Mobotix has so many problems is certainly not your fault, so I sympathize with the role you are in. But complaining that people have problems with your products and making us talk to you offline is not going to build more confidence.

I'll give you an example. Joe Byron, VP of Sales, Americas today emails us complaining / asking:

Just a question: The claim in your post that we are ±0.1°C with use of a black body radiator actually is not true, but could you refresh me on the source of that information?

As a footnote, high sensitivity is a valid claim from MOBOTIX as opposed to high accuracy which of course are much different…. just wondering if there was any misunderstanding or a wording issue in our documentation that I sent to you -please let me know. [emphasis added]

But we got that directly from Mobotix's own documentation, excerpted:

Again, a lot of these problems are a "Germany" issue but you all need to try to make things better, not further decrease confidence in what you all offer.

Maybe you all will dismiss this as me being 'biased' against Germans or Mobotix or whatever. But get your stuff together, Mobotix.

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John Dunlop

In reply to John Honovich | 05/28/20 11:43am

Have you been able to do any testing on this product yet?

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to John Dunlop | 05/28/20 11:45am

John, we have not tested Mobotix yet. We have been focusing on products that have gotten more attention - e.g., we finished testing Dahua, Hikvision, Sunell, ZKTeco, we are testing FLIR right now, etc. We still might test Mobotix but at least not in the next 2 weeks. As we get through more product testing, we continue to re-evaluate what to test next.

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John Dunlop

In reply to John Honovich | 05/28/20 11:49am

it seems to be the system in use at Heathrow airport in the UK, so it would be very interesting.

(and no blackbody in use with it)

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to John Dunlop | 05/30/20 02:37pm

John, thanks. We are now in the process of ordering Mobotix to test, between it shipping and us getting it tested, we are still at least 2 weeks out, but we are now planning to test it.

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Thomas Lienhard

04/08/20 09:49pm

A large metropolitan transportation company I work with contacted me seeking advice for all of the above (Not mobotix) for an office that his still open. I referenced all of the FDA requirements and acceptance etc. I looked at 2 viable options and one horrible alternative (also named as a fraud elsewhere on this site) my local distributor recommended with little knowledge or care of the requirements, expectations and efficacy ... The model best suited for this deployment is backordered 30-45 days at a minimum. The alternative is backordered 30 or more. This may be a moot point if your looking for a "today" solution. Im leaving the products out because it doesn't matter, availability is going to public health and medical facilities first.

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Paul Grefenstette

04/09/20 02:50pm

Am I the only one that automatically crosses off any manufacturer that is trying to capitalize on anything COVID. Nothing is approved by the FDA and I am not going to give my clients a false sense of security/safety over a solution that's not 100% accurate 24/7 as I am not going to be responsible for anyone getting sick on my watch, it's just ridiculous that anyone would even try to sell any of these solutions.

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Charles Rollet

In reply to Paul Grefenstette | 04/09/20 03:03pm

Hi Paul, you mentioned "Nothing is approved by the FDA" - however, as IPVM has reported, the FDA has cleared a number of thermal cameras for fever detection (as long as they're used in conjunction with a legally marketed thermometer to confirm the person's temperature.)

However it's true that the recent entrants to fever detection - such as Feevr, Dahua, and Athena - don't have the proper FDA 510(k) clearance, posing a potential legal risk.

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Paul Grefenstette

04/09/20 03:35pm

Charles would you bank your reputation and the health of your clients on any of these solutions? FDA or not I'm not touching this.

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Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | 04/13/20 08:40pm

We attended the webinar on Mobotix thermal cameras which did not include a lot of information on thermal body temperature screening, only the offerings (M16/15, S16/15) and difference between thermal and thermal TR.

The differences in Thermal and Thermal TR shown below:

They also covered the different camera/lens offerings and combining thermal and visual imagers on cameras:

Most of the webinar covered uses of thermal cameras (perimeter protection, privacy protection, fire prevention, machine monitoring) and an overview of the web interface/setup for thermal cameras but not specifically for body temperature screening.

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