Aurora Launches FaceSentinel, Facial Recognition for Access Control

  • Jun 18, 2015

Aurora has launched FaceSentinel, the world's first biometric access control authentication product powered by Deep Learning. Designed for integration with existing access control systems, the ground-breaking facial recognition system uses AI and infrared light to achieve unparalleled facial recognition speed, accuracy and reliability.

FaceSentinel works with existing high-security access control systems to authenticate pass holders: a registered user swipes his or her pass card or key fob and FaceSentinel simply confirms whether the person holding the credential is the same person registered within the organization’s access permissions system. This authentication happens in a second or less, thanks to the core technology behind FaceSentinel: Deep Learning.

Deep Learning is a pioneering technique used to create a highly optimized Artificial Intelligence. It works by first creating a blank "brain": an artificial neural network. This brain is then trained to recognize faces by presenting it with millions of face image examples, enabling it to become more experienced, faster and more accurate at the facial recognition task than any human or existing technology could be. Aurora's Deep Learning capacity is the result of work done by its R&D department - a team of six PhD facial recognition experts led by Head of Research, Dr. Tom Heseltine.

The cutting edge technology behind FaceSentinel also includes the use of infrared cameras to overcome the inherent challenge presented to facial recognition by fluctuations in natural light.

Gary James, Aurora's Head of Sales and Customer Relations, said that the development of FaceSentinel heralds a new era in biometric security technology.

"This is the first time the security industry has seen Deep Learning and Artificial intelligence harnessed to create a fast, powerful and truly reliable access control product," he said. "It's unobtrusive - the user doesn't need to present themselves to a finger or handprint scanner - and safe: only face templates are stored, not images of users. FaceSentinel is Wiegand and RS485 compliant and so can be added seamlessly to 90% of the world's access control systems. For high security sites it provides true authentication and peace of mind."

UK-based Aurora has impressive pedigree and experience in the world of airport passenger management, where its facial recognition products assist with matching travelers to boarding passes at Heathrow and Manchester airports. At Heathrow Terminals 2 and 5, over 15 million facial recognition events were processed in 2014. At Manchester, over 5 million people have used the system since its introduction in 2013.

"The technology is highly efficient and reliable," James said. "Now, with Deep Learning, it is amazingly accurate and consistent - and getting more so all the time."

Aurora's first access control partner is Plan Access Control. Managing Director, Ray Phillips, said, "FaceSentinel is truly a huge evolutionary step for access control authentication. It's far and away the fastest, least invasive, biometric verification system we've worked with, and it makes a lot of sense for use in high-end access security applications."

Aurora is actively seeking additional new access partners to work alongside FaceSentinel and welcomes enquiries from manufacturers.

"We believe FaceSentinel provides a truly compelling case for the use of biometric verification in high security scenarios," James said. "It's the fastest, most accurate authentication available, and we'd love to hear from access control manufacturers who are interested in working with us."

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