Appian Technology PLC

The Venom ALPR camera is a high performance infra red image capture system designed for vehicle based operations. Due to its small and unobtrusive size, the camera can be easily mounted on the top of a vehicle or installed elsewhere for covert applications. In its dual configuration the Venom camera uses two high performance 10 x optical zoom modules, one for ALPR imaging and one for high quality contextual imaging.  

Optical zoom capability gives users great flexibility to adapt the camera for their specific operational requirements, e.g. car park trawling to high speed motorway/freeway operations. In addition this capability allows the Venom to overcome the worldwide variation in license plate size. Smaller license plates need a narrower field of view. In order to accommodate different character colours globally a number of illuminator wavelength options can be specified at the time or order - 810, 870 or 940nm are available. 

The Venom incorporates advanced sequential shuttering synchronized to a high power infrared flash. Depending on wavelength capture distances can be extended to 15 metres if required. This contributes to the Venom’s outstanding performance on retro reflective license plates – it overcomes the problem of high variation in the retro reflective properties of each individual license plate. Older license plates are often more oxidized and require higher levels of infra red exposure, whilst newer plates need less illumination. The constantly varying shutter speed means that no matter how fast the plate passes thought the field of view, a sharp image can always be obtained for the recognition engine to process. In mobile operations there can be massive variation in capture speed as the ALPR vehicle may be static - or on a high speed patrol.

  The monochrome ALPR camera module within the Venom incorporates a band pass filter. This element enables the elimination of unwanted Infra red encountered in very bright sunshine and from oncoming vehicle headlights.

  In terms of operator control this is achieved through a simple GUI interface on a Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) touch screen. Images taken by the camera are sent along a video cable to the user and displayed in the front of the vehicle.