How to Improve Inaccurate Sricam Person Detection
Sricam's person detection feature is a powerful tool designed to reduce the number of unnecessary notifications by distinguishing between people and other moving objects. However, when it doesn't work as expected—either by sending false alerts or by failing to detect people—it can be frustrating. This guide will walk you through the steps to calibrate and troubleshoot your Sricam camera's person detection for better accuracy.
Most issues with person detection are not due to a faulty camera but rather its settings, placement, and environment. By optimising these factors, you can significantly improve its performance.
## Step 1: Adjust Sensitivity and Detection Settings
The single most effective way to fix detection issues is by fine-tuning the settings in the Sricam app. A setting that is too high will trigger alerts for everything, while one that is too low will miss important events.
- Enable Person Detection: First, ensure the specific 'Person Detection' or 'Humanoid Tracking' feature is turned on. Don't confuse it with the general 'Motion Detection' setting.
- Adjust Sensitivity: Navigate to the alarm or detection settings for your camera. You will find a sensitivity slider, often with levels like 'Low', 'Medium', and 'High'. If you are getting false alerts, lower the sensitivity. If the camera is missing people, increase the sensitivity.
- Test After Each Change: Make one small adjustment at a time. Lower the sensitivity by one level, then test it by walking in front of the camera to see if it still detects you while ignoring minor movements.
## Step 2: Optimise Camera Placement and Angle
Where you place your camera has a massive impact on the effectiveness of its AI detection capabilities. A poorly positioned camera will struggle to differentiate between a person and a moving tree.
- Avoid Areas of Constant Motion: Do not point the camera directly at bushes, trees, or flags that move in the wind. These are common culprits for false alerts.
- Consider Lighting: Avoid pointing the camera towards a strong light source, like the sun or a security light. Drastic changes in lighting, such as passing car headlights or moving shadows, can also trigger false motion alerts.
- Angle and Height: Position the camera so it looks down slightly, from a height of about 2-3 metres (7-10 feet). This angle provides a clear view of a person's entire body, making it easier for the AI to identify them.
- Field of View: Make sure the main area you want to monitor is in the centre of the camera's view and is not obstructed by walls, pillars, or large objects.
## Step 3: Define Motion Detection Zones
Many Sricam models allow you to set up specific 'Activity Zones' or 'Detection Areas'. This feature tells the camera to only pay attention to motion within a defined part of the frame, ignoring everything else.
- Set Up Your Zone: In the app's settings, find the option for detection zones. You will typically see a grid overlaid on your camera's view.
- Select Key Areas: Select only the squares that cover the areas you care about, such as a walkway, a doorway, or a driveway.
- Exclude Problem Areas: Crucially, deselect the squares that contain moving trees, a busy road, or your neighbour's property. This is one of the most effective ways to eliminate false alerts.
## Step 4: Keep Your Firmware and App Updated
Sricam regularly releases updates for both the camera's firmware and the mobile app. These updates often include improvements to the person detection algorithms and bug fixes.
- Check for Firmware Updates: In the camera settings within the app, look for a 'Device Update' or 'Firmware Version' option. If an update is available, install it.
- Update the Sricam App: Go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to ensure you have the latest version of the Sricam application installed on your phone.
By systematically working through these four areas—settings, placement, zones, and updates—you can dramatically increase the accuracy of your Sricam's person detection and ensure you only get the alerts that truly matter.