Troubleshooting Fermax Facial Recognition Issues
Fermax door entry systems with facial recognition offer a seamless and secure way to manage access to a building. When it works, it feels like magic. When it fails, it can be a significant source of frustration and a security bottleneck. If your Fermax system is struggling to recognise faces, this guide is here to help.
We'll cover the common reasons for failure—from enrolment issues to environmental factors—and provide practical solutions to get your system running at peak performance.
Common Reasons for Facial Recognition Failure
Understanding why the system might be failing is the first step toward fixing it. High-tech biometric systems are sensitive, and several factors can impact their accuracy.
- Poor Enrolment Quality: The initial face scan (enrolment) is the most critical piece of the puzzle. A poor-quality reference image taken in bad lighting or at an odd angle will lead to poor recognition later.
- Environmental Factors: Lighting plays a huge role. Strong backlighting, deep shadows, or very low light can make it difficult for the camera to see a person's facial features clearly.
- Changes in Appearance: Significant changes like growing a thick beard, wearing heavy-rimmed glasses (if not worn during enrolment), or using face coverings can affect accuracy.
- Camera Issues: A dirty, smudged, or scratched camera lens can obscure the view. The angle and height of the entry panel are also crucial.
- User Behaviour: The user might be standing too close, too far, at too much of an angle, or not looking at the camera directly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Improve Fermax Facial Recognition
Follow these steps to diagnose and improve the performance of your access control system.
1. Re-enrol Users in Optimal Conditions
A bad enrolment is the most common cause of poor recognition. Deleting the old facial data and re-enrolling the user correctly can solve many problems.
- Control the Lighting: Enrol users indoors in a well-lit area. The light source should be in front of the person to illuminate their face evenly. Avoid windows or bright lights behind the subject.
- Neutral Expression: Ask the user to maintain a neutral facial expression and look directly into the camera.
- Remove Obstructions: For the enrolment scan, users should remove hats, sunglasses, and non-essential face coverings.
- Follow On-Screen Prompts: Use the system's administration panel and follow the enrolment instructions precisely. Capture multiple angles if the system allows it.
2. Optimise the Environment at the Entry Point
The conditions where recognition happens are just as important as the enrolment conditions.
- Clean the Camera Lens: Regularly wipe the lens on the outdoor panel with a soft, lint-free microfibre cloth. Smudges, dust, and water droplets can severely impact performance.
- Improve Lighting: If the entry area is poorly lit, especially at night, consider installing an additional overhead light source. Ensure the light illuminates the faces of approaching visitors without creating harsh glare on the camera lens.
- Check for Backlighting: If the sun is directly behind where visitors stand, the camera may only see a silhouette. If moving the panel isn't an option, an awning or other form of shading can help mitigate this.
3. Educate Users on Proper Usage
Sometimes, the issue is simply user error. Provide clear instructions for visitors or residents.
- Correct Distance: Advise users to stand approximately 2-3 feet away from the panel.
- Face the Camera: Users should look directly towards the camera, not down at the ground or up at the ceiling.
- Pause Briefly: Ask users to pause for a second or two in front of the panel to give the system enough time to process their face.
4. Update System Software/Firmware
Check with your installer or Fermax support to ensure your system is running the latest software. Updates often include significant improvements to the facial recognition algorithms, enhancing both speed and accuracy.
By taking a methodical approach to improving the data quality, environment, and user interaction, you can dramatically increase the reliability of your Fermax facial recognition system.