Mobotix Thermal Detection Camera Tested

By Ethan Ace and Rob Kilpatrick, Published Jun 09, 2020, 03:36pm EDT

For years Mobotix has struggled but now sales are surging driven by Mobotix's thermal camera sales as a response to coronavirus, with both their parent company Konica Minolta and US giant Dell marketing Mobotix. But how well does it work?

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We bought and tested Mobotix's M16 thermal/visible camera, examining:

  • Mobotix's multiple measurement methods with and without blackbody
  • How Mobotix initial installation and configuration differs from others
  • How Mobotix marketing and engineering recommendations differ and how it impacts performance
  • How hats, masks, and glasses impact temperature measurement
  • How the cameras integrate with third party VMS

Interested readers should also see our other coverage of thermal screening systems, including:

*******

** *** *******, *** Mobotix *** ******** *********** measurements ****** *.*°* / 0.5°F ** ****** **** temperature **** ******** ******* for ********* *** ******* glasses (*******'* *********** ***************) so *** ***** ******* could ** ******** *** a ***** **** ********** was ****. ************, *** camera *** **** ********* to **** / ***** than **** *********** ******* in ***** *********, **** elevated ************ ** *** canthus *** ******** ******** in >**% ** ********.

*******, **** ****** ** wearing ******* ** ***** in *******'* *********, ******** consistently ******** ~*.*°-*.*°* / 0.5°-1°F ***** ***** *** inner ******* ***** *** be ********, **** ************ most ******** ******** ** the ********, ****, ** neck, ***** *** ****** lacks **** ********* ** other ********* ** ****** measurement ****.

************, * ********* *** required ** ******* ******** of ~*.*°* / *.*°*, with ******** ******** ** to ~*.*°* / *°* lower ** ****** **** their ****** **** *********** as ******** ** * calibrated ** ***********.

*******, *** *** ** significantly **** ********* ** set ** *** ********* than *********** ********* *******, requiring ***** ** ******* imagers ** *** *****, configure ******** ******* ******* settings, ***** ***********, *** alarm ******* *** ******** in *********** *******. **** setup ** **** ********* (~20-30 ******* *** ****** for *********** *****) *** introduces ********** ********* *** errors ***** ***** ****** accuracy ******** ** ****** which **** ******** ******* users **** ** **** regions, ***** ******** ******/********, and ****** ******* ***********.

No *********** ********* / ******* ***** ** **** ********

*** ******* *** **** not ******* **** ********* or ***** ******** ** detect ********' **** ** inner *******, ******* ****** measuring *** ******* ***** in *** ******'* ********* zone.

******* ** ****, *********** location *** **** **** person ** ******, **** the ***** ******* ******** on *** *******, *** forehead ** *******, *** the ***** ** *******, resulting ** ***************. ************ were **** ***** ***** of *** *******'* ***** canthus **** ******** **** stationary (** *********** ** Mobotix), **** ***** ********* more ***** ******** ** subjects **** ******** ******** after ******** **** ******* due ** ****** ************ and *** ********.

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************, ******** ******** *** zone ******* *** ****** or ***** ***** **** not ** ********, ** the ****** ****** ******** the ******* *****. *** M16 ******** * "******* Range" **** ***** ****** users ** ****** ************ between * ***** *** upper ***** ***** ***** potentially ***** ***** ****** (e.g., ****** ******* **** 41°C / ***°*). *******, in *** ******* *** confirmed **** *******, **** rule ** *** ******* in ******* ********. ******* says **** ****** ** to ** ***** ** an ******** ******* *** did *** **** * firm ********.

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Face ********* ******* (*** ******)

******* ********* **** **** are ********* ********** * face *********-***** *********** *********** to ******* ** ****** seen *****, ********* ** conjunction **** ******* ******* for ***** ***** *** models ***** ** ****.

*** ******* ****** ******* for *** *** *** being ******** ** *** market ** ****. ** the **** ****, ** are ********* ********** ** edge *********** *** **** detection ***** ******* **** temperature ************ *** *** MOBOTIX * ******.

*** *** **** ** this ****** ******:******* * **** ****** Tested. **** **** **** detection-based *********** **** *** be ********* *** ******** models ** ** **** the ***'* *****-** ** capabilities, *** ***** ** the ***.

Increased ***** **********

****** **** ***********, **** as*****,****,*********, ****** ******* ******* *** **** not **** **** *** factory ************* *** *********** screening, ********* *********** ************* before *********** *** ** performed. ***** ********** ******** ******* ***** ** ****** these ******, ********* ****** tasks **** ** ******** a *********** **** *** alarm ********* ******** ** others, ** **** ** more ******* **** (********* temperature *********** *** ******* ranges, ****** **********, *** more).

************, ***** **** ******** create ***** ******* ***** are ********* **** *********** thresholds *** *******, **** as ******** ******* *****, adding * ****** ** video, ** ******* ****** or **** ******.

** ********, ******* ********* cameras *** *** ** from *** ******* *** body *********** ***********, **** fewer ***** ******** ***** impact ***********, **** ***** only ******* * ********* zone *** ********* ******.

***** ** ** ******** of ******* ** * basic *********** *********** **** with * ******* *****.

Mobotix ********

***** ***** *** ********** setup ********, ******* ********* that **** *** *** their ******* ** ** as ******** ** ********, giving ***** *** ****** to ********* **** ** best ***** ***** *****. However, **** **** ** add ********** ******* ** speed ************ ****** *******:

****** *******, ** *** in *** ******** ****** to **** ********** “*******" in *** ******** ** make ** ****** *** set-up. *******, ** ***** that *** ******* *********** is * ****** **** for *** ********* ** they *** **** ****-******** and **** ** ***** our ******** **** **** challenging ************, ***** ***** solutions *** *** ** as *******. ************, ** think *** ********** ** our ******* ****** ** educated ** ******* ******* in *******, ********* ***** is * ****** **** of ******** ********* ** the *****.

Three *********** *******

*** ******* *** ******** three ********* **** ** configuring ********* ******:

  • ******** ***********:****** *** ********* **** a ******** ***********, **** no ********* *********.

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  • ******** *********** **** ****** Correction:****** *** ********* **** a ******** ***********, **** measurement ********* ***** * blackbody *********.

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  • ********* ***********:****** *** ********* **** subjects ****** *** *********** of * *********, ***** is *** ** *** desired ***** *********** (*.*. 100.4°F).

**** ** ***********/**** ********* standpoint, ***** ** ** difference ** ***** ***** methods, **** ****** ****** displayed ** *** ****/******* or ******** ***** ******* users *********.

"Atmospheric ************" ***********

******* **** *** *** a ****** *********** ****** to ****** ******-******** *********** to ****** **** *********** measured ** ***********, ****** other ********* ******* ** have ******. *******, ***** must ****** * ******* named "*********** ************" ******* (ranging **** **-***) ** adjust ******* ******** *********** to ** ***** ** that ** ** ** other ************.

** *** *******, **** process ******** *********** ***** and *****, ***** **-** minutes ** **** *** multiple ********. ** ********, other *********** ********* ********* take subjects ********, ********, *** an ****** *******.

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**** *********** ****** *** accurate **** *** **** using * *********, **** temperatures ****** ~*.*°* ** actual **** *********** ******** by ******** ******** ***********.

Less ******** ******* *********

*******, ******* * *********, this *********** ****** ******** in ******* ********, **** some ******** ************* ***** or ****** **** ***** actual ***********. *** *******, the ******* ***** *** measured ** *** ****** at **.*°* / **.*°*, but *** ****** *********** was ********, **.*°* / 99.9°F ** ******** ** a ********** ** ***********.

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Marketing **. *********** ***************

******* **** ****** **** scenarios ***** ********** *** discussions **** ***** ********* staff. *** *******, ****** *****(****** **** ********* ********* *****), ******** *** ***** being ********* ******* ******* and **** ******** ****** in *** ******:

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*******, ** *** *********** Mobotix *********** ******** ****** glasses *** *********** ** the ***** ******* *** be ******* ****. ** our *******, ********* **** glasses ** ********* ************ by ~*.*-*°*. ***** *****, the ****** ****** ** the **** ******* **** of *** ****, ** this **** ** *** subject's **** **** *** canthus ** *******.

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Additionally, Mobotix recommends that subjects pause for 1-2 seconds for measurement and do not continue moving for best accuracy. When measuring subjects on the move, reported temperature dropped significantly.

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*******, ******** ******* **** videos **** ******** ******** moving ******* * *********** region, *.*.,**** *******(**** ****** ** ******* in ***** *************):

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*******, ******** ******** *** cause ****** ************ ** those ** *** **********, as *** ****** **** detect **** *** ****** highest ***********, **** ** detection *** *********** ** separate *****. ***** *****, the ******'* ********* ****** measures **** * ****** subject ** *** **** of *** ***** ** view ** **** ****. This **** **** ** the ***** *****, **** only *** ********* ******* measured.

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No ********* ********** **** **** *** *****

*********** ******** **** *** without **** **** *********** the ****, ***** *** camera ******** ***** ***** the ***, ***** ****:

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*********, ************ ***** **** masks ******** *** ****** of *** **** **** virtually ********* ** ***** taken *******, ***** *** camera *** ***** **** to ****** ****** ********' inner *******.

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**** * **** **** covering **** ** * balaclava *** ****** ****** on ***********, **** ******** and ** *** ****:

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No ****** *********** *********** ****** / *******

*** ** *** **** of **** ** ****** detection, *** ******* ****** performs ******** *********** ***********, sending ******/****** **** **** objects *** **** ***********. Because ** ****, ***** is ** ************ ** logging ** "******" *********** measurements, **** ******** ** video. ** ********, ***** systems ***** ***** ***** measurements ***** ***** ** track ******* *********** ******* over **** ** ********* trends ** ****** ******** as ******.

***** *** **** ***** may ** ********** ** using ***** ******, **** as****************, ***** ****** ***** motion ** *** ********* region, *** **** ******* requires ******* ************* *** still **** *** ******* temperature *******, **** *****.

ONVIF *** ***********

*** *** ****** ** ONVIF ******* * ********** and *.*** ********* ****** in *** ***** ******. No ***** ** ****** integrated *********** ****** **** A ****** ******, **** video *******.

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Physical ********

*** ******* *** ** a ****-****** ******* ****** using * **** ******* and ******* *** ******* imager/lens *******. *** ******* imager ** ***-*********, *** users **** ******* *** visible ****** (** *******) in *** *****.

** ****** *** ************ of *** ****** ** this *****:

*******

*** ******* *** ******* sells *** ~$*,*** *** online ********* * ****** thermal ******. ******* ****** modules **** *** ~$*** USD. **** ******* ** lower **** **** *********** models ***** **** *** ~$7,000-8,000 *** *** *** camera *****.

******* **** *** ******/******* a *********, *** *********** the **** *********** (~$***-*** USD), * *** ****, compact ***** **** * narrower *********** ***** **** others, ******** ** **** temperature *********.

Firmware ****

**** ****** ******** *** used ** **** ****: MX-V5.2.6.4 (****-**-**)

Comments (6)

Avatar

Guilherme Barandas

06/12/20 12:03pm

**** ****** *** **** on *** ***? ******* the *** *** *** Thermal * ****** **** from **** * ****, dispenses *** ***** ****. Am * *****?

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Gus Brecher

01/18/21 02:46pm

** **** ********* ******** to **** **** *** Mobotix ******* ** ******* the ********. ** ***** face ********* *** ****** landmarks ** ***** ** specific *****, ** ****** a *** ** *** extraneous ********. ** **** integrated ***** **** ******* and **** ******* *** option *** * "*******" black **** ******* *** can ****** *** **** within *** ****** **** to ****** * ********* (in *********** ****** ************). Also ******** ** *** solution *** **-****** **********, and "*******" ****** *** event *************.

**** ******** ********** ******* in ********** **** ** the ************ ****** ** the *******.

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Undisclosed #1

In reply to Gus Brecher | 01/18/21 02:56pm

*******, *** ***** ******** cannot ****** ******** *** fact **** *********** ******* have ****** ****** *** to ** * ***** in ***** ** ********** COVID ******.

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Gus Brecher

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 01/18/21 03:07pm

* ******* ***** **** be ****** ** ** whether *** *********** ******** methods **** *******/***** *** spread ** *****, ** there **** ** ********* opinions. * ***'* ******* on ****, **** ** the ********** ********.

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Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Gus Brecher | 01/18/21 03:51pm

***,

** **** ****** ** other ************* **** **** done *** **** **** Mobotix *******, ***** *** a ****** ******** ******* to *** ********* ******* Cathexis ************; ******** ****** screening *** ** *** move *********. ** **************** ******* *********** ***** ******** ****, *** ******** ********* forehead (****** ******* *******), obscured *****, *****/******* ***** scanning:

,

**** **** *** ***** Mobotix *************** *** ****** subject ****-***-****, ******* **** video ***** ** ** marketing * *****-***** ********? Can *** ******* ****?

**** ** *** ***** showed **** *********** ******* the ***** *******, *** you **** **** ******** of "** ****** * lot ** *** ********** readings"?

Agree
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Gus Brecher

In reply to Sean Patton | 01/19/21 06:57am

** ****,

** *** **** ******* out, ********* "**-***-****" ** not *** **** ********. The ****-***-** ******** ********** provides *** *** **** results (** *** *** Mobotix ***************).

** ** **** ********* to ******** ****** ********* on *** **, ** in ***** ********'* ** use **** **** ********* and **** **** ** initiate *** ***** ** which *** ******* ** taken

** ** **** ********* who *** *** *********** on *** ****, *** they ********** *** ****** that ***** ** * reduction ** ********. ** use *** **** ********* to *** *** ******* results ** ******** ******** until *** **** ** at * ******* ****, so **** ** ***'* get * ***** *** of ********* **** ***** the ****** ** ******* towards *** ******.

** *** ********* *******, the ***** ***** ** not **** *** ******* camera ********.

** ****** **** ******** regarding *** ********** ********. We ******* ******** **** Mobotix *** *** ******** camera ****. ** **** use *** ********* ** "focus" *** ********* ** specific *****, ******* ******** miscellaneous ***** **** *** coffee *** ******** **** other ***** ** *** person ** ****** ****. In ***** ** ******** the ****** *********, *** subject ***** ** ** pretty **** ****** ** front ** *** ******.

******* ***** **** ** had ** **** **** consideration *** *** "******** error" *** ** *** two ******* ****** ***** slightly ****** **** *** another. ******* ** *** using *** ******* ***** camera *** *** ********* but ********* *** *********** readings **** *** ******* camera ** *** ** introduce ******** ***** ************ calibration.

** **** * *** of *********** ** *** EU ****** **** *** solution, ** ** *** need *** **** ****** from *** **** ***** who **** ****-***** **********, I *** *** *** in *****.

*******

***

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