Panasonic Business recently unveiled its new face recognition server software using deep learning technology at IFSEC 2018. Jointly developed with the National University of Singapore, the product achieved the highest level of face recognition performance in the world in a comparison test of NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) of the United States.

The Face Recognition Server Software WV-ASF950 can identify faces that are difficult to recognize with conventional technologies, including faces at an angle of up to 45 degrees to the left or right or 30 degrees up or down, and those partially hidden by sunglasses.

“Face Server changes the game in terms of detection accuracy,” IFSEC Global quoted Gerard Figols, Category Manager at Panasonic Security as saying. “Not only does it maintain 90%+ accuracy for faces that are partially covered by sunglasses or face masks, it also recognises faces from photographs that are up to 10 years old.”

In addition, the new software features the iA (intelligent Auto) mode that automatically adjusts settings for the camera to shoot optimal images best suited for face recognition. When it is used with Panasonic’s i-PRO EXTREME series network cameras installed with the “Best Shot License Key” that comes bundled with the software, only the “Best Shots” will be sent to the server for face recognition.

The combination of Panasonic core devices and the face recognition software maximizes the performance of the software’s core engine to achieve high-precision recognition, according to Panasonic Business. The company plans to add a function to recognize partially covered faces with a surgical mask, which is difficult with conventional systems, by the end of this year.

Furthermore, using this software with cameras equipped with the iA function enables image analysis to be performed on the camera instead of the server to send only the best images to the server. This will result in reducing server and network loads, which leads to overall system cost reductions. In the case of 10 or more network cameras are connected to the system, the costs can be reduced by about 40 to 50% compared to conventional systems that do not use the Best Shot function.

The Face Recognition Server Software WV-ASF950 and the Face Registration Expansion Kit WV-ASFE951W will be launched in July outside Japan and in August 2018 in Japan.