Recently, Hikvision has launched their first AOV solar-powered 4G dome camera, which is especially ideal for remote site monitoring. This article takes a closer look at the device, based on product testing by a&s China.
Amidst the sustainability trend in video surveillance, solar-powered video cameras have become increasingly popular. Recently, Hikvision has launched their first AOV solar-powered 4G dome camera, which is especially ideal for remote scenarios such as suburbs, farmlands, railways and forest scenic spots. This article takes a closer look at the device, based on product testing by a&s China.
As a new type of environmentally friendly monitoring equipment, solar-powered cameras are seeing stronger demand. They do not rely on traditional power supply, which is undoubtedly a great blessing for scenarios where power wiring is inconvenient and costly.
However, there are certain pain points associated with solar cameras, including Insufficient battery life, high storage and transmission costs, and inaccuracy in capturing. To address these issues, AOV or always-on-video technologies have emerged and appeal with their long battery life and all-weather recording capabilities. That said, Hikvision has launched their first AOV solar-powered 4G dome camera. Its features and highlights are summarized as follows.
Small size and easy installation
The camera has a simple and smooth design. The 2-inch dome camera is equipped with a 10-inch solar panel, making it easy to install. The camera and solar panel are separated, greatly improving the adaptability of the device to be deployed in various complex environments. In addition, this device supports Hikvision's self-developed app, through which devices can be added with a QR code scan, and viewing can be done from anywhere. The IP66 dust and waterproof design can easily adapt to the challenges of extreme outdoor environments.
Full-color video in all-weather conditions
The dome camera excels in terms of image quality. The camera uses a 4MP HD lens with F1.2 aperture and is equipped with a dual infrared/white fill light to achieve 24-hour full-color images. At the same time, the fill light can ensure that nearby objects are not overexposed, and distant objects are not missed. In short, the camera allows high-definition monitoring even in low-light environments and is capable of 24-hour all-weather monitoring tasks in various indoor and outdoor scenes.
In light-sufficient scenarios, the camera allows effective detection distance of 25 meters and can clearly identify details such as people’s facial expressions and vehicles’ license plates.
Ultra-low power consumption
The camera is designed to record with 1 frame per second during non-events and switch to normal recording at 12.5 fps when a person/car appears. The reason the camera can achieve ultra-low power consumption is due to upgrades in three areas, namely:
Control system upgrade: Hikvision's newly upgraded control system has a 46 percent improvement in performance and 30 percent reduction in power consumption compared to the previous generation. At the same time, the new DDR technology is introduced, which greatly reduces the device’s working power consumption when no event occurs. In addition, the SoC uses a new architecture at the software layer to achieve AOV capabilities.
Sensor and aperture upgrade: The new low-power sensor reduces power consumption while improving image quality. It can capture images faster (less than 100 milliseconds per shot), effectively decreasing power loss caused by slow capture and reducing power consumption by more than 10 percent compared to traditional sensors. In addition, the F1.2 large aperture allows more light to enter the device, greatly reducing the power consumption of fill light.
4G module upgrade: The low-power 4G module adopts a distributed architecture design, which greatly improves the efficiency of device-cloud interactions, allowing the device to achieve stable and efficient transmission with low energy consumption.
Multiple charging options and long battery life
In addition to the hardware upgrade, the camera is also equipped with a 32Wh automotive-grade ternary lithium battery and an 8W monocrystalline silicon solar panel. The photovoltaic panel power efficiency is increased by 23 percent compared with the previous generation, and the cell conversion efficiency is increased by 5 percent. It can be said that in terms of battery life, the device allows continuous recording for seven consecutive rainy days (Note: the 7-day battery life is based on Hikvision’s lab data under the premise of 50 minutes of alarm and 10 minutes of preview per day).
During the test, a&s set the dome camera to AOV mode (1 FPS when there is no event), kept it in an indoor environment of 13-20 degrees Celsius without connecting to the solar panel for charging, and triggered an alarm 5-6 times a day on average. Before the test, the camera had battery life of 58 percent. After logging in three days later, it was found the camera had battery life of 12 percent, and real-time video could still be viewed. The video footage captured within the three days could be reviewed through local TF storage, indicating that the device was recording during the testing period.
In addition, the battery is removable and can be charged via a mobile phone charger, power bank or solar panel. The use of the USB Type-C interface allows multiple charging options. If the device shuts down due to a lack of power, it can be restarted quickly, allowing users to view video while charging.
First choice for outdoor monitoring
The camera has many practical functions. It supports two-way audio communication, ensuring real-time voice communication between the mobile phone and the monitoring site, improving emergency response capabilities. Further, the camera has two built-in 4G SIM cards which come with unlimited traffic. There’s no need for power or transmission cables – just insert the SIM card and the camera is ready to use. In terms of video clarity, the user can choose between three image modes: standard definition, HD and UHD. It can be said this dome camera is the first choice for outdoor monitoring.
Built-in AI algorithm
The camera supports human and vehicle detection. The built-in AI algorithm has a solid learning and training foundation, and the event (human, vehicle) detection accuracy rate is over 98 percent (Note: The 98 percent accuracy rate comes from Hikvision lab test data where tests are conducted at a distance of 15m from the device). In actual testing, when a human or vehicle appears in the scene, an alarm is immediately triggered, and no missed events are found.
In addition, in traditional solutions with built-in PIR, the detection distance is generally less than 10 meters, and detection is easily affected by ambient temperatures, resulting in false alarms. For the Hikvision dome, the detection distance has been greatly expanded to 25 meters, and when combined with AI, the camera can detect potential safety hazards in a timely manner and effectively filter out false alarms.
In actual testing, it is found the camera supports human/vehicle detection and, with the Hikvision app’s subscription-based intelligent analysis, can detect the following: vehicle type (EVs, excavators, bulldozers, cement tankers, etc.), special events (smoking in non-smoking areas, illegal fishing in non-fishing areas, illegal dumping of trash, etc.), and operating violations (not wearing a safety helmet, not wearing a chef hat, not wearing a chef uniform, not wearing a mask, etc.).
Lightweight storage
Video storage is a major pain point in video security. With AOV, storage is no longer a problem. By reducing the fps during non-event periods, storage space is greatly reduced compared to traditional solutions recording full-time. In the AOV mode, the utilization rate of a memory card is 5 times that of traditional cameras (Note: this is based on Hikvision lab data), greatly reducing the burden on storage.
Product advantages
1. Simple and smooth design with a lightweight solar charging panel, making installation simple and convenient;
2. Upgrades to the control system, sensor and aperture and 4G module boost performance and reduce power consumption;
3. The use of 32Wh automotive-grade ternary lithium battery and 8W monocrystalline silicon solar panel allows battery life of 7 consecutive rainy days;
4. Storage-wise, the application of AOV technology increases the utilization rate of the memory card by 5 times, realizing lightweight storage;
5. A total of 22 built-in algorithms enables monitoring in a diverse range of scenarios.
a&s comments
The low-power design, all-weather recording capabilities and high-quality image capturing make AOV especially appealing in the low-power camera market. Hikvision's AOV solar-powered 4G dome camera coupled with built-in AI algorithms enables a 25-meter detection distance and a wider monitoring angle, resulting in higher accuracy. With various advanced functions and capabilities, the camera achieves 24-7 continuous recording, solving the pain point of conventional low-power solutions where the camera does not record if no event takes place. In addition, the Hikvision brand all but guarantees the product’s performance, reliability and competitiveness when launched in the market. The camera can be widely used in suburbs, farmlands, railways, forest scenic spots, construction sites, river dams, wildlife protection sites and other scenes.
Product Adopted:Surveillance Cameras