Cemtrex Announces Integration of AI Armed Person Detection Feature in Vicon NEXT Cameras

­Cemtrex Inc., an advanced security technology and industrial services company, today announced that its subsidiary, Vicon, will integrate an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) gun detection feature in its NEXT Cameras, which will be released in the first calendar quarter of 2025, marking a significant milestone in public safety and security technology. This novel detection feature is designed to function on edge devices, offering a low-cost, high-efficiency solution for assistance in the detection of armed persons in surveillance footage and enhancing the capabilities of video management systems to initiate specific responses upon detection.

The launch of this AI feature is part of Vicon’s commitment to developing cutting-edge solutions that meet the dynamic needs of its customers. Armed Person detection uses transformer AI models to detect short and long weapons/firearms that are physically on a person to provide higher accuracy than traditional models. Training is conducted on a wide range of weapons using artificial data as well as real footage with a wide range of body types and positions, and under varied weather and lighting conditions.

The AI technology employs high accuracy to distinguish common objects such as cell phones, wallets, collapsible walking canes, drills, hammers, and tripods, among other objects, to limit false alarms. While performance may be variable across lighting conditions as differences in contrast are required, the technology can detect weapons up to 45 feet from the sensor. Current solutions on the market are generally server-based which are extremely cost prohibitive and difficult to deploy, whereas Vicon’s approach for an edge-based solution, offers a more effective alternative.

"We believe armed person detection is a crucial feature for increasing safety in public spaces such as workplaces and schools," said Saagar Govil, CEO of Cemtrex. "The feedback received through our collaboration with potential customers showed the technology is an effective tool that organizations can employ as an added layer of security. We look forward to commencing sales of the NEXT Cameras next quarter."

Vicon, in conjunction with its technology partners, developed this feature to provide real-time alerts and facilitate rapid response, thereby playing a crucial role in enhancing security measures and potentially preventing violent incidents before they occur. The value of integrating gun detection technology into video surveillance systems offers significant advancements in the ability of organizations to protect their premises and the people within them, providing peace of mind in increasingly uncertain times.

Gun violence remains a pressing issue in the United States, with provisional data for 2022 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions:

• Over 48,000 firearm-related deaths, including nearly 20,000 homicides, were recorded in the U.S.
• An average, 132 Americans died from a firearm-related injury each day, with hundreds more shot and injured.
• Guns remained the leading cause of death for children and teens, climbing 87% in the last decade.
• Recent years have seen a stark increase in school shootings, with 2021, 2022 and 2023 all setting records since at least 2008. There were at least 82 incidents in 2023, but 2022 was one of the deadliest years, with 46 fatalities, according to CNN.

Vicon's AI gun detection technology aims to contribute meaningfully to efforts to reduce gun violence and its devastating impact on communities across the nation. The Company sees the market opportunity for this feature to be vast, ranging from schools, hospitals, government buildings, retail, to religious institutions.