Qualcomm set to make home cameras smarter with Snapdragon 618

Qualcomm has unveiled its Snapdragon 618 camera reference design and development platform. The innovation makes home cameras smarter using the next generation technologies.

The Snapdragon 618 camera platform includes a reference design and IP camera SDK that will bring 4K HEVC video recording, alongside LTE connectivity and heterogeneous computing for video analytics. The chip maker has provided a hexa-core CPU, based on 64-bit architecture, a next-generation Adreno GPU as well as an embedded DSP with advanced video analytics. Although this is almost the same silicon that many mid-range smartphones already have, the new platform works directly using an image sensor and provides on-camera video analytics without requiring any third-party hardware.

Apart from simply capturing images, the platform is capable of object detection, facial detection and recognition and multi-object tracking. It also has Qualcomm Zeroth object classification to deliver a smarter experience. Moreover, the presence of LTE in addition to Wi-Fi enables users to stream live videos even through any major telecom network.

"Qualcomm Technologies continues to drive meaningful value across the IoT (Internet of Things) ecosystem, and we're seeing tremendous traction in the use of our platforms across many vertical segments," Raj Talluri, senior vice-president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, said in a press statement. "We're tapping into our immense portfolio to build custom platforms for key segments within the IoT, and connected cameras are one of these areas that can benefit from our industry-leading connectivity and processing solutions."

The reference design has dual image signal processors (ISP) with up to 21-megapixel images and 4K video recording support. Also, there is a proprietary power management chip with integrated audio codec to help streaming videos from remote areas.

The Snapdragon 618 camera platform is currently available as a reference design for manufacturers. This means home camera solutions are yet to be based on the new technology. However, the initial range of cameras with Snapdragon 618 is expected to arrive in the first half of 2016.

In addition to the new camera platform, Qualcomm has brought MDM9207-1 and MDM9206 as two of its new modems for IoT devices. The new modems would work with the new camera platform to offer advanced home security solutions in the coming future.