30 Years of Hanwha: a Journey Which Continues With AI

30 years of Innovations

Let’s take a look at Hanwha Techwin’s timeline over the past 30 years.

In 1990, Hanwha Techwin, previously known as Samsung Techwin, took the first step towards becoming one of the world’s leading manufacturers of video surveillance solutions with the launch of its first camera. It was the start of a journey during which the company has introduced numerous ground-breaking innovations whilst helping drive the migration from analogue CCTV to IP network-based video surveillance solutions. More recently, it has been among the first to embrace the exciting opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI).

 

1990

Shortly after launching its first analogue colour CCTV cameras, Hanwha Techwin established its reputation as an innovator with the introduction of cameras equipped with a host of new features, including auto iris lens, ultra-low-light technology and high-performance Wide Dynamic Range (WDR).

 

2007-2019
The transition from analogue to network systems

Hanwha Techwin achieved considerable commercial success with its analogue CCTV products. However, the development of the internet saw the use of electronic devices such as PCs, laptops and mobile phones become popular, and this coincided with the growth in demand for IP network-based video surveillance solutions.

Although Hanwha Techwin has been a technology leader in respect of analogue CCTV, the transition to video over IP proved to be a tough and demanding challenge. However, by taking advantage of its vast experience of optical and video processing technologies, and with input from its loyal network of customers, the company launched its initial IP network product line-up in 2007.

Determined to continually improve, Hanwha Techwin focused on developing its own camera chipset and this led to the introduction in 2013 of the Wisenet3 IP network cameras which were equipped with the third generation Wisenet System on Chip (SoC).

This was achieved by Hanwha Techwin making a significant investment in its production capabilities and by harnessing the technical brilliance of its design engineers and product management team. It proved to be a turning point in terms of the company establishing a competitive edge with the help of new feature-rich cameras which were able to capture superb quality images even in the most challenging lighting conditions.

Since then, Hanwha Techwin has continued to enhance its product offering by introducing next-generation Wisenet chipsets which incorporate innovative advances in video surveillance technology, many of which are unique to Hanwha Techwin.

The company was among the first to recognise the opportunity to create new sales opportunities for system integrators by offering open platform chipsets with the processing power required to run multiple specialist analytics applications on-board our cameras, similar to the way Apps are run on smartphones and tablets.  In addition, many Wisenet cameras are supplied with Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA) features as standard.

The comprehensive camera line-up now includes Wisenet X cameras which are supercharged by the most powerful chipset ever incorporated into a full camera range, keenly priced Wisenet Q cameras which offer the essential features for budget-conscious projects, premium Wisenet P ultra-high-definition 4K cameras and Wisenet T explosion-proof and thermal imaging cameras, which are designed for challenging applications.

To support the countless legacy analogue CCTV systems which are still being used, Hanwha Techwin also offers Wisenet HD+ cameras which deliver HD images over coaxial cables. These cameras offer an effective solution for those end-users who want to benefit from being able to capture and record Full HD 1080p images but are not yet ready to migrate from analogue to an IP network-based video surveillance solution.

 

Innovative solutions for 2020 and beyond

As end-users’ expectations rise as to what they can expect to achieve from their video surveillance systems, there is likely to be a surge in the deployment of cameras equipped with advanced forms of edge and Cloud-based video analytics, AI or Deep Learning solutions.

During 2020, Hanwha Techwin will be launching a new range of cameras equipped with its next-generation Wisenet 7 chipset, which offers a new level of processing power and an extensive feature set that includes AI. As such, these new cameras have been designed to detect and classify people and vehicles in real-time and capture various characteristics of objects as well as people, such as license plates, facial attributes and demographics.

In addition to offering greater accuracy and fewer false alarms to users who are looking to detect criminal activity, the cameras will also help businesses identify ways to improve productivity.

Vertical markets in the security industry are increasingly requiring more specialized devices and solutions to meet their unique requirements. With the emergence of the fourth industrial revolution and 5G, the presence of smart verticals will be more prominent, and video surveillance companies must be ready to provide solutions for smart cities, factories, transportation and retail organizations. Within the not too distant future, we will see the introduction of AI applications developed by Hanwha Techwin and its technology partners which will enhance video surveillance systems to a level which at this time might not seem possible.