New SmartWitness ADAS Camera Combines Video & Telematics in One Unit, Reducing Cost & Footprint of Video Telematics Deployments

Cellphone-Sized, Plug-and-Play Device Removes Barriers to Video Telematics Adoption

CHICAGO (Sept. 30, 2021) – Video telematics provider SmartWitness today announced the first ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) camera that captures video and vehicle data in a single cellphonesized, plug-and-play unit, eliminating the time, expense and space required to purchase, install and maintain separate camera and telematics devices.

The new SmartWitness AP1 road-facing camera also uniquely combines driver-friendly features such as artificial intelligence that reduces false reports of risky driving behavior, audible alerts to drivers in the event of an imminent accident, and industry-first mobile apps for device configuration and on-the-spot driver retrieval of accident video. Other features include assisted GPS support, a compact form factor that doesn’t block driver views, and a new standard for ease of use.

This simple but feature-packed design reduces the cost and complexity of video telematics, enabling fleets to realize critical benefits such as visual chain-of-evidence when accidents occur, the ability to exonerate drivers who are not at fault in accident situations, identification of risky driving behaviors to improve safety through coaching, and a reduction in accident, litigation and insurance-related fleet costs. Fleets also have the option to use AP1 in conjunction with existing telematics devices to achieve the same benefits.

Two devices in one: AP1 is the first 4G LTE ADAS camera to capture video and telematics data in a one-piece unit, simplifying video telematics deployments by eliminating the need to install two hardware devices in truck cabs as well as the extra step of combining data from both devices on the server. In addition to GPS information logged by other ADAS cameras, SmartWitness’ AP1 pulls other critical data such as ignition, engine load and engine temperature from the vehicle’s onboard computer and combines it with video to provide a one-stop solution for improving fleet safety.

15-minute installation: The SmartWitness AP1 camera can be installed in as little as 15 minutes with a simple windshield adhesive mount, reducing deployment time and associated expenses by as much as two-thirds. Additional savings are achieved by eliminating separate telematics hardware. The unit connects to the vehicle’s OBDII port, requires no separate power step-down, and utilizes a mobile app for ADAS calibration. J1939 plug & play functionality is supported in the AP1 1.2.1 firmware release, pending adapter cable availability. Please note that release time frames are subject to change.

Do-it-yourself configuration and video retrieval apps: AP1’s first-in-class companion mobile apps bring additional innovation to the video telematics space. One app provides a step-by-step guide to configuring the camera for ADAS capability, with no technical knowledge required. The other allows drivers to retrieve video from a traffic incident on the spot without removing the camera’s microSD card to help meet 24-hour deadlines for filing insurance claims, provide visual evidence at the scene and more.

Critical ADAS functions: Unlike other ADAS cameras with little-used features that add unnecessary complexity, AP1 focuses on preventing three top accident causes by providing headway monitoring warnings (for tailgating-related incident avoidance), forward collision warnings (indicating an imminent collision), and lane departure warnings (when the driver crosses a solid lane line). Images captured by the camera are analyzed in real time, triggering audible warnings that help keep drivers safe and alert.

Assisted GPS: In the event a vehicle is surrounded by tall buildings, driving in bad weather conditions, or otherwise not in line of sight of a satellite, AP1 draws data from local cell towers to triangulate the vehicle’s location. This assisted GPS technology ensures that the AP1 software records vehicle location data even when the camera’s GPS receiver cannot capture a signal, providing complete GPS documentation to support accident investigations.

AI and other driver-friendly features: As a dashcam with no driver-facing camera, AP1 is an ideal option for fleets encountering driver resistance to being watched while driving. The SmartWitness Artificial Intelligence Driving Events (AIDE) software included with all SmartWitness cameras further reduces conflict with drivers by dramatically reducing false positives that cause erroneous reports of risky driving behavior, unnecessary driver coaching sessions, and distrust in the accuracy of the product, while also saving fleet managers hours of time wasted in reviewing videos with no driving infractions. Drivers also gain key safety and legal protections, including ADAS audio notifications that help prevent accidents and HD video evidence that can potentially absolve them of responsibility in the event of an accident.

“The video telematics market is crowded with camera solutions that are both too complex and too expensive for most fleets,” said Michael Bloom, SmartWitness Vice President of Product and Marketing. “Our new AP1 ADAS camera delivers a streamlined, easy-to-use, low-cost design that not only removes barriers to adoption but also provides a blend of high-value features not available in any other single device.”

The SmartWitness AP1 records configurable HD (1080p) video at 15FPS with a 128-degree field of vision, contains a microSD card with a 64GB storage capacity, and measures just 122mm x 95.5mm x 15.5 mm. More information is available at https://www.smartwitness.com/ap1-integrated-adas-camera/