Automated home security system doubles as a personal assistant

Thanks to modern technology, home security systems are a more affordable option for homeowners. At the same time, home wireless networks can help extend their capabilities and ease of use. Angee Inc., a San Francisco startup, is looking to take things a bit further by adding computer smarts to create an automated security system that’s not only portable, but also serves as a personal assistant.

Launched through a crowdsourcing campaign, Angee can be controlled by and send notifications to a smartphone and features a cylindrical form factor housing an HD camera with night vision capabilities. After its set up, the device is designed to be completely autonomous and learn the habits of members of the household in order to arm and disarm automatically. 

Angee learns the habits of members of the household in order to arm and disarm automatically. Image source: Gizmag.

Angee’s camera rotates to provide full 360° coverage of a room and uses an array of six passive infrared sensors rather than the camera for 360° motion detection. Through the use of security tags, the device also offers perimeter security. These tags, which are small discs, are meant to be attached to windows and doors to detect when someone is entering or exiting, and they work through the use of motion and proximity sensors while being powered by two AAA-batteries, and features 4.1 connectivity. This also allows the device to sense nearby phones to identify who is home.

Because Angee can be powered by its built-in 3,600 mAh rechargeable battery, it’s completely portable. According to the company, Angee should also be able to stream video for at least eight hours, even if the mains power goes out. Better yet, the device’s built-in storage will also record about an hour of HD video footage, or more at lower quality. The company offers a subscription using Amazon Web Services, too, to securely store footage in the cloud, but claims that for most people, that won’t be necessary, as Angee is intelligent enough to only record suspicious activity. 

Sensor tags can be attached to windows and doors so Angee can detect when someone is entering or exiting. Image source: Gizmag.

Angee can determine suspicious activity on a number of parameters, including movement by someone it doesn’t recognize, changes in background noise, entry and exit patterns, and voice differentiation. It can recognize people via the Bluetooth signal on their smartphone or by their voice alone. Once suspicious activity is detected, a notification is sent via the mobile app, compatible with both iOS and Android, which can then stream video from the device.

As for the virtual assistant part of Angee, it can be verbally controlled once it identifies someone via voice recognition. For example, the device can work as a kind of communication hub and double as a personal assistant by recording moments for a family member who is away, answering calls, and checking the calendar. If rain is in the weather forecast, it can remind the user to close the window, and for moment of privacy, Angee can be instructed to record only people it doesn’t recognize or turn around when ordered to do so. 

Once recognizing a person, Angee can be verbally controlled. Image source: Gizmag.

Aiming to raise $250,000 through a Kickstarter campaign, Angee Inc. is offering early backers one Angee and one security tag for a pledge of $299 (the expected retail price is $429). Higher pledges will get backers additional tags and Angee units, and if all goes according to plan, delivery for anywhere in the world is scheduled for October 2016.

Angee measures 5.5-in high, 3.1-in. in diameter, and weighs 1.3 pounds. The security tags are 0.6-in. high and 1.9-in. in diameter. 

Source: Gizmag