Second-generation X Series compact AI cameras: Hanwha Vision redefines "small but powerful"

This year MT Distribuzione turned 30, and to celebrate this milestone we organized a special event together with the partners who accompany us on our journey. Among them was Hanwha Vision Europe, which chose to stand by our side as an event partner and bring some of its latest innovations.

One in particular caught the attention of the installers and professionals present: the 2nd generation of X Series compact AI cameras, the first compact range with artificial intelligence in the family. Small in size, but with the processing power and features of the most advanced cameras.

Let's look at what it's all about and what has changed compared to the past.

SCOPRI HANWHA!

From "compact with compromises" to compact AI

For years, in the video surveillance world, the word "compact" almost always meant "with some compromises": less analytics, less processing power, fewer features. With the 2nd generation of X Series compact AI cameras, Hanwha Vision changes approach: reduced dimensions, but with the same on-board intelligence as the most advanced cameras in the family.

In this article we look at the technologies that make this leap possible and how the three models in the range differ: XNV-A9016R, XNV-A8016R and XNV-A6016R.

The first compact AI range in the X Series

Hanwha Vision announced the 2nd generation of X Series compact cameras as the first compact AI range within a family already highly appreciated by the market. As John Lutz Boorman, Head of Product Marketing at Hanwha Vision Europe, pointed out, the launch stems from the success of the previous compact models. The goal is to deliver significantly higher performance, meeting expectations for a powerful yet compact AI solution.

The range of applications is broad. It goes from high-end retail to complex commercial buildings, both indoors and outdoors, with particular attention to all those situations where installation space is limited or unconventional.

The technological core: Wisenet 9 and Dual NPU

The leap in quality starts with the processor. The new cameras are based on the Wisenet 9 SoC, equipped with Dual NPU. The concept is simple but effective: video quality and AI analytics have independent computing resources, so one function never penalizes the other.

In practice, the camera can enhance the image with AI-based algorithms and, at the same time, classify objects with high accuracy, with no compromises and no slowdowns. This also applies to noise reduction (WiseNR II, based on the AI engine) and to the WiseStream smart compression, which help contain bandwidth and storage space.

Object classification and on-board analytics

The integrated AI engine accurately classifies four categories of objects: people, faces, vehicles and license plates. For each, attributes can be extracted:

• People: color of upper and lower clothing, gender, presence of bags

• Vehicles: type (car, bus, truck, motorcycle, bicycle) and color

• Faces: age, gender, face mask, glasses

In addition, the BestShot function selects the best thumbnail of each detected object, making forensic searches much faster. Available analytics events include virtual line crossing, intrusion, loitering, area entry and exit, stopped vehicle, and slip and fall detection. On the Business Intelligence side, there are people and vehicle counting, queue management, heatmap and crowd counting.

Dynamic Privacy Masking: security and privacy together

One of the most interesting new features is Dynamic Privacy Masking (DPM). Thanks to the power of the AI engine, the camera can automatically mask people, vehicles, faces or license plates in real time, with color or mosaic options.

The benefit is concrete. In contexts such as luxury retail or sensitive public spaces, activity and flows can be monitored without exposing identities and without giving up overall monitoring accuracy. It is a practical answer to the growing demand for privacy protection, a topic that every installer and every end customer faces today.

A design built for installers

The compact form has a dual purpose. Aesthetically, it reduces visual impact and leaves the look of the environment unchanged. Practically, it is designed with the installer in mind. The 120 mm diameter allows it, when wall-mounted, to perfectly cover a single-gang box, with a clean and professional finish without the need for additional accessories.

Other useful details for fieldwork:

• USB Type-C port to easily configure and check the framing (preview and installation only, requires a Wi-Fi dongle)

• PoE power (IEEE 802.3af, Class 3), so a single cable for data and power

• Aluminum body with hard-coated dome, white color (RAL 9003), 555 g weight and dimensions of ø120 x 65.5 mm

• Wide range of dedicated brackets and accessories (wall, ceiling, pole and corner mounting, back boxes and more)

Night vision: the IR moves outside the dome

For the first time in a compact X Series camera, the IR illuminators are integrated and positioned outside the dome. This is an important design choice because it eliminates internal reflections, one of the classic problems of domes with infrared, and provides an IR range of 25 meters (850 nm). The result is a sharp, halo-free image even in total darkness.

Robustness for indoors and outdoors

The entire range is certified IP66 (protection against dust and powerful water jets) and IK10 (maximum impact resistance, typical of anti-vandal installations), with NEMA 4X compliance. The cameras are designed to operate from -40 °C up to +50/+55 °C depending on the model, and are therefore suitable even for the most demanding environments.

Cybersecurity is also a key aspect. The cameras feature encrypted and signed firmware, secure boot, 802.1X authentication, encrypted communications (HTTPS, SRTP, MACsec), AES-256 SD card encryption, a certified secure element (FIPS 140-3 level 3, CC EAL6+) and SBOM for supply chain security. They are also compatible with ONVIF S, G, T and M.

The three models compared

The range offers three resolutions, 2MP, 5MP and 8MP, to suit different needs and budgets. All share the same platform, design, 3 mm lens, 25 m IR and protection ratings. What changes are the sensor, image performance and detection distances.

XNV-A9016R: 4K for maximum detail

It is the flagship model of the range, an 8MP (4K at 30 fps) with a 108° horizontal field of view. Thanks to its high resolution, it offers the best DORI distances in the series: detection up to 55.8 m and identification at 5.6 m. The AI analytics distances are also at the top, with people up to 35 m and vehicles up to 46 m.

It is the natural choice when detail is needed: large areas to cover with few camera points, entrances and gates where faces and license plates must be recognized, high-end retail, halls and commercial areas where every detail matters. It supports resolutions up to 3840x2160 and handles five streaming profiles.

cod. SAM_XNV-A9016R

XNV-A8016R: 5MP, the best compromise

The 5MP is the model that, in terms of the balance between detail, bandwidth and storage, is often the sweet spot for many projects. It offers a field of view of 100° horizontal and 74° vertical, with more generous vertical coverage than the other two models. DORI detection up to 43.5 m, identification at 4.3 m and AI analytics up to 26 m for people and 34 m for vehicles.

In terms of sensitivity, with 0.06 lux in color it sits midway among the three models. It also has the lowest consumption of the two higher-resolution models (6.2 W typical), and the datasheet lists it as a "Vandal Dome". An excellent solution for offices, shops, parking lots and medium-sized perimeters.

cod. SAM_XNV-A8016R

XNV-A6016R: the smooth and sensitive 2MP

The 2MP (Full HD) model is the one that stands out most in some respects. It reaches 60 fps in H.265/H.264, so it offers superior smoothness, useful for fast-moving scenes. It has the highest WDR in the range (150 dB), ideal for handling strong backlighting such as shop windows, entrances and exits to the outdoors. It also has the best low-light sensitivity(0.027 lux in color, 0.0027 in B/W) and the lowest consumption (4.8 W typical).

Despite its lower resolution, the AI analytics keep the same detection distances as the 8MP (people up to 35 m, vehicles up to 46 m). It is therefore a very efficient solution for projects with many camera points, where cost, bandwidth and storage space matter, but where on-board intelligence is not to be sacrificed. Its DORI distances (detection 27.9 m, identification 2.8 m) make it suitable for medium and short-range scenarios.

cod. SAM_XNV-A6016R

How to choose the right model

A practical rule can help with the choice:

• XNV-A9016R when the goal is maximum detail and coverage of wide areas, with the need for recognition at a distance

• XNV-A8016R when you need a balance between quality, bandwidth and storage, with good vertical coverage

• XNV-A6016R when smoothness, dynamic range and sensitivity in difficult lighting conditions matter, or when designing systems with many cameras and resources to optimize

On the storage side, all three models support microSD/SDHC/SDXC up to 1 TB and direct cloud connection, plus 4 GB of RAM and 8 GB of eMMC memory.

In summary

The 2nd generation of X Series compact AI cameras brings together elements that until now were hard to find in such a small format: processing power with Dual NPU, advanced object classification, privacy protected with DPM, external IR with no dome reflections, and IP66/IK10 robustness. With three resolutions available, every project can find its own balance without leaving the same platform.

The range is available from MT Distribuzione!

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