How Do Smart Security Cameras Work?

With the increasing popularity of smart security cameras, more and more users are willing to purchase these cameras for their convenient installation and intelligent monitoring capabilities. But how do they actually work? In this article, we will introduce some basic knowledge of smart security cameras.

Unlike traditional security cameras, smart security cameras typically only start working when someone enters their monitoring area. They can send intrusion information to your phone through Wi-Fi, allowing you to receive security alerts or communicate with visitors no matter where you are, whether you're relaxing on a Hawaiian beach or strolling down the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

So how do smart security cameras detect intruders or visitors? Currently, there are three main solutions:

Solution 1: Image recognition through cameras

Smart security cameras using this solution are always in an open camera state and compare the real-time camera image with historical images. They determine if there are any significant differences between the two and trigger an alarm if the difference meets the set conditions.

Advantages: Real-time detection is the best among the three solutions.

Disadvantages: Power consumption is severe, and this solution can only be used in wired smart security cameras, not in battery-powered ones.

Solution 2: Recognition through PIR sensors

PIR sensors can detect the thermal energy emitted by moving objects at a certain distance, and smart security cameras with PIR sensors can recognize moving objects from a distance of 8 to 10 meters. The camera will then trigger a secondary recognition process, or immediately send intrusion information to your phone if you have set it to detect all motion.

However, because PIR sensors rely on thermal energy detection, they can mistake anything above 85 degrees Fahrenheit as an intruder, even just a gust of wind.

Advantages: Low cost and low development difficulty.

Disadvantages: PIR sensor recognition accuracy is low, and the false alarm rate is high.

Solution 3: Combination of PIR and radar sensors

This solution is designed to compensate for the instability of PIR sensors at high temperatures. Radar sensors have good stability during temperature changes, so both PIR and radar sensors must be triggered to confirm the intrusion before triggering an alarm. According to experimental tests, this combination can reduce false alarms by over 95%.

Advantages: Low false alarm rate.

Disadvantages: High cost and high development difficulty.

If your doorway scene is complex, or the local temperature frequently exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, we recommend that you choose a wired smart security camera or a battery-powered one with both PIR and radar sensors. After all, false alarms can cause unnecessary worry and anxiety.