Customer Innovation Series: Natech Technology

This week we highlight the SENTINEL AE4A Kit from Natech Universal Security, our partner in South Africa. The SENTINEL AE4K Kit is a complete stand-alone unit that provides robust edge-based video analytics in a rugged form-factor at an attractive price-point.

Natech understood the need for a solution with integrated analytics for any integrator to easily sell and deploy. Powered by Arteco Logic NEXT Enterprise video content analysis software, edge based industrial micro NVR, analogue cameras and IR illuminators giving a total of 200m perimeter protection which could be extended to any distance by merely adding additional kits.

Our Executive Vice President of Sales, Steve Birkmeier, sat down with the Technical Director of Natech and the designer of the solution, Dean Sichelschmidt, to discuss the impact of this product on the South African Security Market.  

SB:The Sentinel AE4A Kit is an innovative application for video analytics deployed in the field, what was the thought-process that triggered the development?

DS: Well, being in the industry for almost 16 years one always tries to look at solutions for customers that would offer great value for money and that would sell without much fuss. By "fuss" I mean certain perimeter solutions seem to require a large amount of time and effort into the site preparation such as power, fiber, etc so by the time the client receives a final quote they are "surprised" at the cost just for the labour and data charges.

So before we got involved with Arteco we had the challenge of offering high quality/well priced perimeter solutions. After being introduced to Arteco it became clear that from a software/analytics perspective we have finally met the right partner. The addition of the Arteco Micro NVR was the piece of the puzzle that allowed an edge based, rapidly deployable solution to become a reality.

Sure, we used the Micro NVR's as anyone else would, but later saw that if we were to build this device into an enclosure and then add low cost cameras, encoders & illuminators we were able to provide a cost effective perimeter solution that was easy to install and configure. Therefore the days of having a heavy investment in perimeter surveillance was over!

The integrator merely states how many meters of perimeter requires coverage and with this information we can advise them on how many kits are required, understanding that the coverage on a single kit is 200m.

SB:What type of vertical markets are you targeting and where have you already seen success with the product?

DS: Well the markets that would benefit from this are absolutely endless. Wherever perimeter surveillance is required would be a target for this product. Although this are early days for the "kit," the components used have been doing well for us for some years now. Success as a "final product" has been very good with many Blue Chip companies showing immense interest in the offering. As we speak we have an integrator that has been awarded 7km of perimeter surveillance and won this due to the fact that The Sentinel is just so easy to deploy and that it is not limited to what type of camera is connected to it. 

SB:From a competitive standpoint, what do you feel are the clear advantages of the Sentinel AE4A Kit has over the competition?  Who do you see as the competition for this product?

DS: Simplicity, that is the number one advantage of the Sentinel! It is also easy for any integrator to understand and deploy and can even use their clients existing cameras which reduces the cost even more. Yet on the other side the Sentinel can also include microwave beams, thermal imaging cameras, fence detection solutions, audio (as a verbal warning) and can even include LED perimeter lighting solutions. Competition wise....well there are MANY solutions out there, but what makes the Sentinel standout is the integration with Arteco, and also the way in which the Sentinel is packaged. The biggest competitor we feel we have are those that have analytics and video storage on the camera or encoder itself, but a negative for technologies like this is they are totally focused on perimeter surveillance.

The Sentinel is a clear winner as it not only serves as a perimeter solution but can be part of a much larger solution. By this I mean: 

• What if a client has a perimeter problem, but also need ANPR, people counting, object left object counting, etc? 
• What if a client has an existing investment in cameras?
• What if a client wishes to have intelligent fence detection as another means of protection?
• What if a client just has some simple CCTV requirements such as VMD?
• What if a client wishes to integrate his access control, intruder alarm, fire/smoke detection

With Arteco this is totally possible! There is no need for specific hardware for a specific function. With Arteco Logic-NEXT all the client's needs can be met from a single solution! And besides the cost per channel for Arteco has proved to be lower than any other solution.

SB:What is the future for the self-contained, easily deployed video-analytics based solutions like the AE4A Kit in South Africa? Do you see its appeal spreading to other markets? Why?

DS: The future is extremely bright. Perimeter surveillance is by no means a new concept to the South African market, however certain solution providers do hold the market share, but this is rapidly changing. The Sentinel is here to stay and has been seen as one of the very few solutions that are affordable, yet offers high end results. The Sentinel is something that can be used for small sites all the way up to huge perimeters, but we also see a its fit a nice market - farms. Farm murders are a huge problem in South Africa and with the use of something like Sentinel it provide the farmer with a warning which will give them a few vital seconds if not minutes that crucial as to take action against the intruders. 

SB: Dean thanks again for your time today and answering our questions.  We hope the Sentinel brings a lot of joint success.
DS: No problem, as do I.

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