Day: March 25, 2023

3xLOGIC has developed a comprehensive ecosystem of integrated security and access control products that perfectly complement each other and, in turn, provide greater value. Richard Joslin, Senior Director of Global Sales for 3xLOGIC, explains why it makes sense to use one supplier that can meet all requirements. As a leading provider of intelligent security technology, 3xLOGIC’s product ecosystem simplifies the lives of customers and adds value to any deployment. Our video surveillance and access control systems provide an entire endto-end security and business solution that can be tailored to each customer’s needs through a single point of contact. Beyond security The word ecosystem perfectly encapsulates 3xLOGIC’s longstanding approach. It drives us to develop products that can be easily integrated, scaled, and are fully tested prior to being installed – making the process of system design and specification simpler and more reliable. An ecosystem is all about interconnection and at the heart of 3xLOGIC’s offering is the VIGIL Video Management System (VMS). This centralised software platform allows the monitoring of 3xLOGIC’s VIGIL range including National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliant cameras, network video recorders (NVRs), software, advanced imaging devices with artificial intelligence (AI) based capabilities, recording appliances, mobile apps, accessories, and mounts. Life changing Data has changed our lives, the way we communicate and the way we interact – the more data you have the better informed you are and the more meaningful business decisions you can make. New data is becoming available every day, making it easier for business leaders to optimise their operations, find efficiencies, protect their buildings and assets, and solve problems. 3xLOGIC has developed a range of on-premise and mobile solutions that can maximise the effectiveness of data and offer value beyond protection. These include VIGIL Client, which offers remote and/ or local live and playback viewing of all video and data collected by a VIGIL Server. Meanwhile, VIGIL Central Management provides information such as which cameras are online, NVR recording status, disk usage, server connectivity, storage resiliency, redundancy and alerts, while VIGIL Smart Search functionality enables individuals to quickly identify and review events. Perfect harmony Integrating access control and surveillance technology makes both elements more effective. Viewing them through the VIGIL VMS and reporting interface and monitoring and analysing data through its software, allows users to view real time events and associated playback video, as well as run reports on events and alarms. Using access control and surveillance technology from the same manufacturer also eliminates disruption and finger pointing between two different system providers if things go wrong. It can also increase safety, for example, if a student loses their access card and can’t get into their accommodation after a night out, an operative can identify the individual quickly, verify them, and let them into the building. Track and trace 3xLOGIC’s innovations deliver transformational business value by mining data and converting it into actionable insights – enabling greater visibility and fresh perspectives. Organisations need to focus their attention on high value application specific data that can lead to positive changes. As such, they are increasingly looking for ways to optimise the use of available data through solutions that provide actionable business intelligence that can be used to increase profit. When it comes to safety of human assets and protection of the public while visiting a premise, 3xLOGIC leads the way via interaction with many types of sensors and external systems. For example, in the US, Active Shooter incidents pose a real threat not only to employees but also to the general public, particularly in areas where crowds might gather. 3xLOGIC’s patented Gunshot Detection Sensor can easily integrate with Access Control Systems for quick lockdowns; Video Management Systems for video verification of an emerging threat; external Alarm Systems for rapid notification of monitoring personnel; and Mass Notification Systems for quick and effective notification of large groups of people as well as First Responders. In an active shooter incident, time is a precious commodity. Giving even just a few seconds quicker notification and providing real-time, accurate situational intelligence can mitigate the damage caused by the shooter. 3xLOGIC’s TRENDS analytics and reporting software makes security management easier, more efficient and more powerful than ever. It turns data into meaningful information – collating, deciphering and presenting it in a way that makes sense by showing present and historical data in a business context. This not only gives insight when you need it, but also offers a fresh perspective to help solve problems that you might not even be aware of. A great example of this is heat mapping, which makes it possible to see where people are going, identify patterns of behaviour, ascertain the popularity of certain items and identify peak times for customer numbers. This information means that products can be positioned effectively, while wait times can be reduced to stop customers leaving a queue. Not only does this provide a better customer experience, but it also means that additional security resources can be allocated to specific areas as and when required, while key performance indicators (KPIs) can also be defined to optimise efficiencies. Up in the sky In terms of product ecosystem development, all eyes continue to be on the cloud. 3xLOGIC recognised the potential of the cloud early on through the development of solutions such as the VIGIL CLOUD, which extends the functionality of the VIGIL VMS. VIGIL CLOUD can be accessed via a standard web or smartphone app. A user can easily view live and playback video from cloud cameras, bookmark cameras for quick and easy access from the main dashboard, check camera health status, export footage clips and collect and package related video events together in case files that can be easily retrieved at a later date – anytime, anyplace, via any device. The cloud also makes collaboration easier, which is especially important considering how hard it can be to share large video files with colleagues. The next step is video in the cloud, which is already established in the US and now coming…

By Colonel B. S. Nagial (Retd.) Threat to the security of a nation is a matter of grave concern not only to Armed Forces and Para Military Forces or political leadership but also to every citizen, irrespective of profession or vocation. While those at the helm of making arrangements to meet the threat must study and follow its development very closely, every citizen must also be well aware of the matters related to the nation’s security. Today, war is no longer confined to a clash between two armies in isolation of the people. It involves the whole nation. The security of a nation involves two aspects: external security and internal security. These are two essential aspects of a nation’s security. While external security refers to protecting a nation’s borders and sovereignty against external threats, internal security refers to maintaining law and order within the country and protecting citizens against internal threats. External security protects a nation’s borders, territorial integrity, and sovereignty against external threats such as military aggression, terrorism, espionage, cyber-attacks, etc. It involves using military, diplomatic, economic, and political means to deter and counter the external threat. External security also consists of forming alliances with other countries to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities and promote regional and global security. Internal security refers to maintaining law and order within the country and protecting citizens against internal threats such as terrorism, insurgency, communal violence, organised crime, cybercrime, etc. It involves using law enforcement agencies such as police, paramilitary, intelligence, and other security forces to prevent and counter internal threats. The primary responsibility for internal security lies with the police and other law enforcement agencies. Internal security also involves the promotion of social harmony, the protection of minority rights, and the prevention of radicalisation and extremism. External and internal security is crucial for a nation’s stability and prosperity. While external security protects a nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, internal security ensures the safety and well-being of its citizens. A balanced and coordinated approach towards both aspects is necessary for maintaining national security. India’s Internal Security situation Contrary to popular belief, the threats stemming from the internal security situation in India are enormous and intricate. Faced with various challenges, India’s experience in dealing with these challenges is mixed in nature. No nation in the world has faced such a magnitude of problems as India has encountered and is still coping with them. Though difficulties posed by internal security have been largely overcome, they have not been wholly routed from Indian soil. Because of the seriousness of the issue, an attempt has been made to acquaint ourselves with India’s Internal Security situation. As per the Ministery of Home Affairs of India’s annual report 2022, the internal security of India could be classified into the following categories: Terrorism in hinterland. Left Wing Extremism(LWE) in certain parts of India. Insurgency in the Northeastern States. Cross-Border Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Terrorism in Hinterland Terrorism in any city or town deep inside the country is called hinterland terrorism. Terrorism in the Indian hinterland results from a complex set of interrelated factors. India’s rendezvous with terrorism and violent extremism is deeply rooted in history, partly due to the religion-based partition in 1947, which divided the sub-continent into India and Pakistan. The sub-continent witnessed the most shocking ethnic riots in modern history, marked by extreme violence and acts of terrorism. Instead, seeds of terrorism were sown with the Arab Invasion of India and culminated in the demand for a two-nation theory. However, India moved away from the horrors of the past and carried on the path of development both of nation and human resources. But Pakistan has not come out of the two-nation theory and still holds this ideology. Since 1947, Pakistan has left no chance to weaken India internally. To understand the significance of the threat posed by terrorism, we need to go back to Afghanistan War in the 1970s and 1980s. The former USSR intervened in the internal affairs of Afghanistan to support the pro-communist regime against the Muslim Mujahidin. The Muslim Mujahidin appealed to world Muslims to support them in Jihad against USSR. Muslim volunteers came from around the world to Afghanistan to form part of this jihad. Most of these Mujahidin were trained and funded by the US through Pakistan. Pakistan conveniently and cunningly diverted these funds to launch terrorism against India. When USSR left in 1989, there was chaos in Afghanistan. The Muslim volunteers from around the world were divided into three groups: one group remained in Afghanistan, and members were united under the guidance of Osama Bin Laden to form Al Qaida. Members of the second group returned to their native countries and joined/started Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorist organisations. The third group dispersed to the western world to spread Islamic Fundamentalist ideology. After its defeat in the 1971 war, Pakistan primarily launched a policy to bleed India by thousand cuts. It started waging a proxy war against India by targeting significant cities. Khalistan terrorists also used this strategy following the insurgency in Punjab. Examples of this kind of terrorism include the 1993 Bombay blasts, the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2002 Raghunath Mandir and Akshardham attacks, the 2005 Delhi Blast, the 2006 Mumbai Train blast, the 2008 Gujrat and Jaipur serial blasts and Mumbai Attcak, the 2016 Pathankot &Uri attacks, the 2019 Pulwama, etc. Left Wing Extremism in India Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is embedded in the communist political movement, which started in 1920 and has grown in numerous streams since then. However, their basic ideology is to establish a classless society in India, but they differ in achieving their ends. Communist Party India (CPI) adopted the electoral process in 1951. A few radical elements broke away from the CPI in 1964 to form CPI (Marxist). And when CPI-M adopted electoral democracy, a more radical Maoist faction within CPI-M initiated the violent Naxalite movement. In 1969 Charu Muzamdar formed a new group called CPI-M&L based on Marxist and Lenin philosophies. By 1972 the communist…

Automated Visual Inspection & Content Analysis for Manufacturing – Automotive Prakash Prabhu – Chief Business Officer & Co-Founder, VisionBot In this feature, we will discover benefits of automated visual inspection, content analysis and deep learning methodologies for Manufacturing enterprises. Computer vision driven automated video content monitoring for future digital factories Computer vision can be used in manufacturing for quality assurance by automatically inspecting products for defects or deviations from specifications. This can be done using techniques such as image processing and deep learning to analyse images or videos of the products. Computer vision is a type of technology that is revolutionizing the way that we think about retail. By using machine learning algorithms, computer vision is able to ‘see’ the world around us and make sense of it in ways that were previously impossible. Computer vision can be used in manufacturing for quality assurance by automatically inspecting products for defects or deviations from specifications. This can be done using techniques such as image processing and machine learning to analyse images or videos of the products. This can help to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the inspection process and reduce the need for human inspection. Some examples of computer vision application in manufacturing include: Identifying defects on a surface of a product Computer vision can be used to identify defects on a product surface by using techniques such as image processing, pattern recognition, and machine learning. This can be done by capturing an image of the product surface, pre-processing the image to remove noise and improve contrast, then using algorithms to detect any anomalies or defects that deviate from a standard pattern. Some common defects that can be detected include scratches, cracks, chips, and blemishes. The results can be used for quality control and to improve the manufacturing process. Checking the alignment and orientation of components Computer vision can be used to check the alignment and orientation of components by using image processing and computer vision algorithms. This can be done by capturing an image of the components and using algorithms to analyse the image and determine the relative positions and orientations of the components. Some common algorithms used for this include feature detection, template matching, and edge detection. The results can be used for quality control and to improve the manufacturing process by ensuring that components are properly aligned and oriented. This can help to reduce defects and improve product reliability. Measuring dimensions and tolerances Computer vision can be used for measuring dimensions and tolerances by analyzing images of objects and using algorithms to extract dimensional information. This can be done using techniques such as edge detection, blob analysis, and pattern recognition. The system can be calibrated using a known reference object, and then used to measure the dimensions and tolerances of other objects. The results can be used for quality control, to ensure that products meet specified dimensional requirements, and for process improvement, by using the data to optimize production processes. The use of computer vision in measuring dimensions and tolerances can increase accuracy and efficiency compared to manual measurements. Detecting missing or misplaced parts Computer vision can be used to detect missing or misplaced parts by analysing images of a complete assembly and comparing it to a reference image of the expected assembly. This can be done using image processing techniques such as object detection, pattern recognition, and machine learning. The system can be trained on a set of images to learn what a complete assembly should look like, and then use this knowledge to identify any missing or misplaced parts in new images. The results can be used for quality control, to ensure that all necessary parts are present and properly assembled, and for process improvement, by using the data to optimize production processes. The use of computer vision in detecting missing or misplaced parts can increase accuracy and efficiency compared to manual inspection. Monitoring assembly processes for compliance with standard procedures Computer vision can be used to monitor assembly processes for compliance with standard procedures. This is done by using cameras to capture images and videos of the assembly process, and then using computer vision algorithms to analyse the images and videos in real-time. These algorithms can be used to detect deviations from standard procedures, such as incorrect assembly sequence or incorrect parts being used. This information can then be used to alert operators to take corrective action or to record non-compliant actions for further analysis and improvement of the process. Tracking and identifying products throughout the manufacturing process Computer vision can be used for tracking and identifying products throughout the manufacturing process. This is done by using cameras to capture images and videos of the products at various stages of the manufacturing process, and then using computer vision algorithms to analyse the images and videos in real-time. These algorithms can be used to identify individual products and track them as they move through the manufacturing process. This information can then be used to ensure that each product is processed correctly, and to track the location of products within the manufacturing facility. Additionally, computer vision can also be used to verify product quality, by analysing images of each product to ensure that it meets specified quality standards. Integrating Machine Vision with AI driven Augmented Computer Vision Objective of the integrated solution – To use automated visual monitoring and AI driven event notifications to monitor, detect and alert for real time observations, asset monitoring, predictive maintenance and centralized reporting of Visual monitoring and Machine Vision Images, alerts on incident/ event detection. VisionBot™ Cloud Automated Computer Vision for Automotive Manufacturing VisionBot™ Computer Vision is one of the many Artificial Intelligence solutions that will continue to transform manufacturing. Leading survey says computer vision will be very important, and 58% said that their firm is implementing, planning to implement, or interested in implementing computer vision in the coming year. It allows machines to extract meaningful information from image and, now, even video data by using sophisticated machine learning…

If 2022 was the year of India’s resurgence and resilience, 2023 can be termed as the year of economic fruition, internal security challenges and guarded optimism. Despite global headwinds, the prolonged war in Ukraine and increasing prospects of global recession, the India growth story will remain buoyant, and robust on the back of strong domestic factors. The World Bank opines that “while the deteriorating external environment will weigh on India’s growth prospects, the economy is relatively well positioned to weather global spillovers compared to most other emerging markets.”The year ahead will continue to be determined and shaped by geopolitical events. Their impact will cast a shadow on energy and food security, while also posing a risk of trade wars/barriers which India will have to navigate adroitly. Events like the price cap on Russian oil, and continued sanctions by the Western bloc, will create stress in our relations with some friendly countries. India as the newly elected President of G20, will need to be more objective and assertive in trying to solve the Ukraine imbroglio. Further deterioration of relations between NATO and Russia poses a strategic security dilemma for India. The political uncertainty and resultant instability in Pakistan is a matter of concern for India. The forthcoming elections in Pakistan will manifest in a hardening of anti-India stance and rhetoric by most political parties. The recent undiplomatic utterance against PM Modi by the Finance Minister of Pakistan has exacerbated the situation further, and any chances of talks on easing of relations between the two has suffered a major setback. With Pakistan battling internal insurgencies, and increasing problems on its Eastern borders, any adventurism on our borders is unlikely. A reasonably stable LOC and secure borders with Pakistan for 2023 can be thus be forecast. While events with China remained on low key for most of 2022, the year-end skirmish near Tawang demonstrated the fragility and volatility of the LAC with China. While the Indian Army stood its ground and deterred Chinese designs firmly, the political fallout of the incident would increase the existing trust deficit between the countries, and also seriously undermine political options for a quick resolution of the boundary issues. The increased hostility would play out in the Asia-Pacific region, and push India further into taking a harder stance in QUAD, and result in increased militarization of its maritime interests in the Indian Ocean region. Relations with China will continue to be strained but any large scale hostilities are unlikely. Notwithstanding the security concerns, trade with China will continue to grow, albeit to China’s advantage. Internally, the acrimonious electioneering towards the end of 2022 showed the increased polarisation and hardening of ideological stance by the ruling party, and the strident, but fractured opposition. This trend will not only continue in 2023, but is likely to deteriorate further with many high decibel elections due in the year. A degree of unrest and violence connected to political events cannot be ruled out. While the traditional internal security challenges like Maoism, and trouble in J&K are on the wane, societal unrest, strikes and large scale protests due to unemployment, reservations, and political affiliations are likely. The Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue has the potential of escalating as it has major political ramifications. The election of Prachanda as PM of Nepal is also an event of geo-political event of significance for India, and would need deft handling as some border tensions with Nepal could spiral out of control. Overall, 2023 could see a possible V-shaped economic recovery on all fronts despite various headwinds. The external security scenario, though challenging, will remain mostly stable. Internal tensions and strife due to high intensity elections is most likely and would need to be monitored. Climate change, sustainability and cyber threats will also pose challenges for business in 2023. In summation, 2023 will be the year of the coming of age for India both economically, as also on the geopolitical front, with it assuming presidency of the G20 and its attendant responsibilities. For India, 2022 began with the country seeking to refocus attention on multiple developmental fronts after waves of the COVID-19 pandemic subsided. Following a rollback of pandemic restrictions in late 2021 to enable economic recovery and a return to normalcy, the emergence of the Omicron variant and its eventual detection in India prompted another wave of lockdowns and restrictions across most parts of the country. However, the robust vaccine administration and lessons learnt from the second wave meant that the third wave was relatively benign, and several state governments realized the need to lift all restrictions in a gradual manner; and reorient lifestyles and business operations to coexist with the new realities brought by the pandemic. An outbreak of infections in neighbouring China and the emergence of a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant have prompted fresh fears of a fourth wave. The emerging new strains of the pandemic have already triggered testing, surveillance and masking protocols; but the disaster management capability built up over the last couple of years is likely to result in a more resilient posture for India in 2023. Notwithstanding the latest spike, businesses, governments, and citizens alike have learnt to live along with the virus, and would be able to cope with any eventual outbreaks in the coming year. On the geopolitical front, relations with China and Pakistan remained adversarial, but relatively peaceful up until December, when Indian and Chinese troops engaged in unarmed clashes at Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh when People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) soldiers tried altering the status quo. Several injuries were reported on both sides, and the clashes threatened to unravel and reverse any gains made in September when both troops unanimously agreed to disengage from the Gogra Hot Springs region. Ties with Pakistan witnessed a relative thawing in 2022 after the escalations in 2019 and 2020, with the Pakistani government even considering requesting aid from India following the widespread floods in the country. However, it remains impossible to delink the issue of Kashmir from India-Pakistan…