Axis Intros Surveillance Gear for Extreme Conditions

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 02/09/10

Axis Communications has created thermal network cameras that allow for the capture of video even in dark areas. The company has also launched a new set of devices for use in mobile environments, such as buses, and released a camera specifically for use in rugged climate conditions.

The Axis Q1910 and Q1910-E Thermal Network Cameras use thermal imaging to detect people and incidents with greater reliability than standard video cameras in conditions that include darkness, haze, dust, and smoke. The first camera is designed for indoor surveillance; the second for outdoor use. Thermal cameras create images based on the heat that radiates from any object, vehicle, or person.

"We see a great demand from customers in high-end professional applications to enhance their IP surveillance systems with thermal network cameras," said Fredrik Nilsson, general manager of the company. "Up until now, there have been no full-featured thermal network cameras available on the market, and analog thermal cameras are expensive and have proven a challenge to integrate with modern video surveillance systems. The Axis Q1910 and Q1910-E change this by being the first security and surveillance thermal cameras that mesh perfectly with any network video system...."

Both cameras provide 160 x128 resolution, 8.33 frames per second, and a 17-degree angle of view. They support H.264 and Motion JPEG, audio, local storage, and Power over Ethernet. The Q1910 and Q1910-E are priced at $2,999 and $3,499, respectively.

The new IP-based mobile cameras are intended for use in buses and emergency vehicles and range in price from $499 to $599. The Axis M31-R network camera series is enclosed to protect the devices from dust and water. It's designed to withstand shock, vibrations, and temperature fluctuations and provides video streams in H.264 and Motion JPEG in resolutions up to one megapixel, including 720p HD. The M3113-R supports the SVGA standard and has an RJ-45 network connector; the M3114-R (a one-megapixel model) has an M12 connector. All of the new mobile cameras include a lens tool to direct and rotate the ball that holds the lens and image sensor.

The company's Q8108-R network video recorder supports HD recording and has an integrated power-over-Ethernet switch that can power as many as eight network cameras recording at full frame rate. The network video recorder provides battery back-up to handle short periods of power drop and safe shutdown of the system. It's priced at $3,799.

The company has also released a series of outdoor-ready fixed network cameras that have weather-proofing against dust, rain, snow, and sun and that can operate in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. An "Arctic Temperature Control" feature allows the camera to power up at freezing temperatures.

The cameras offer two-way audio; video motion detection, audio detection, and an active tampering alarm. They also include an SD/SDHC memory card slot for storing recordings locally. They range in price from $999 to $1,799 and are expected to be available in March 2010.