In this SJA Exclusive, Eve Goode, Assistant Editor of Security Journal Americas hears from Ife Jones, Technical Advisor, about an ‘all-inclusive’ monitoring system by Nand Logic, an engineering design services firm targeting industry leading ASIC and FPGA technologies.

Can you tell me more about NAND Logic? Where did your journey begin and how has it progressed?

Our Founder, Derrick Jones, has over 20 years of experience as a Systems-on-a-Chip (SoC) design engineer.

He’s worked with top engineering design firms like IBM, Rockwell Collins and Motorola to name a few. After advancing to Principal Engineer, Derrick realized that his expertise was, uniquely, both broad and specialized enough to design and consult independently.

He founded NAND Logic about ten years ago, specializing in custom-designed embedded hardware systems. Since then, we’ve built a strong portfolio of embedded hardware – custom microprocessors, serial interfaces, bus systems, etc.

Recently, Nand Logic has broadened its scope to designing commercial products – AEGIS is our most recent development.

What is AEGIS?

AEGIS is an all-inclusive system that provides broad, comprehensive monitoring of any environment. By all-inclusive, I mean that AEGIS integrates multiple monitoring functions into a single device.

Before I continue, I want to mention that there are two versions of AEGIS: a Home Edition and an Enterprise Edition.

Both have similar functionality, but with differing feature sets depending on the business application. For the sake of time, I’ll focus on the home edition in this conversation.

Getting back to how AEGIS integrates multiple technologies, consider the introduction of the cell phone.

It combined a phone, address book, a timepiece, MP3 player and many more devices into a single product.

Similarly, AEGIS is one physical unit (that can be mounted, for instance, on a wall) that includes fire, smoke, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide detection, indoor air quality monitoring, virus detection, facial recognition and sound classification.

Sound classification meaning the ability to decipher sounds. For instance, AEGIS can determine a baby crying, a gunshot, a window breaking and a pre-programmed panic word.

This is especially useful for people with limited mobility or elderly individuals. For example, if you fall and can’t reach your phone, you can pre-program a panic word and AEGIS will make an emergency call for help, providing the authorities with your location.

AEGIS can also call or text your chosen emergency contact, like a loved one or friend.

What sets AEGIS apart is that it contains multiple on-board sensors that take in data about the environment.

It uses AI and machine learning algorithms to analyze the combined data in order to develop a single, clear picture of the environment for the user.

For instance, AEGIS can detect a potential fire by collecting and analyzing temperature and humidity patterns in your home.

The algorithm can determine if a fire is present long before a traditional smoke detector, which requires a sizeable amount of smoke arising from a sizeable fire.

It’s a proactive, near autonomous system that can determine the future path of present events. AEGIS will take action for you or alert you if any predicted event poses a threat.

How do you think systems like AEGIS will affect home security in the future?

AEGIS is a game changer because it demonstrates to consumers that you don’t need a dozen separate devices to monitor your home. Each, by the way, requiring individual surveiling by the user.

For instance, you won’t need carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, multiple security cameras, etc all spread out around your home.

AEGIS is a single unit that essentially consolidates and manages many small, independent devices, simplifying and optimizing the security of your home environment.

Even with multiple AEGIS devices, (for example, one on each floor), everything is controlled and managed seamless via one system.

Can you explain how the biometric system works, including facial recognition? How does the system distinguish between intruders, strangers and family or friends?

Our facial recognition algorithm analyzes about 350 data points between the eyebrows and the tip of the nose with a focus on the pupil and surrounding eye tissues.

We also capture 33 images from multiple angles. This data is combined to create a unique biometric signature, almost like a fingerprint.

Adding and removing people is simple. You can use the app to take a short video. From the video, the system extracts the required images and utilizes AI and machine learning algorithms to build a unique profile.

You can also upload metadata such as names, ethnicities and specific categories like family, friends or neighbors.

The data that you enter is then encrypted and stored on the device, ensuring privacy and security.

Once designated individuals are stored, everyone else is automatically categorized as an intruder.

For example, my family has our data in the system, so if someone who isn’t registered enters, AEGIS will classify them as an intruder. You can then confirm or categorize the person with the options.

One of the unique features of AEGIS is that it runs continuously. Unlike traditional alarm systems that require you to arm or disarm them, AEGIS automatically recognizes your family members and doesn’t trigger an alarm when they come home.

Can the device operate offline, or does it require Wi-Fi for full functionality?

The device itself doesn’t require Wi-F to operate, its fully functional without it.

If your Wi-Fi goes down, AEGIS will still monitor the environment and look out for potential threats. The device has a color and pattern based light feature to alert users, for example, with unique flash patterns and colors.

So even without Wi-Fi, AEGIS will continue to monitor your environment and keep you informed.

However, if you want to interact with AEGIS from your personal device (phone or laptop) or stream video data to another screen (like a TV or tablet), you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection.

What sets your home security solution apart from others in the market?

AEGIS stands out because it combines multiple home monitoring features like security, indoor air quality, sound classification and even temperature and humidity sensing into one unit.

Unlike traditional systems that require monitoring by a third-party service, AEGIS is autonomous.

It continuously tracks your home environment and alerts you to any issues, making it a more efficient and comprehensive solution compared to other security systems on the market.

Can you explain how the Enterprise Edition is used?

A brief note on the Enterprise edition. Our adaptive, AI-driven system allows for a broad range of applications.

For example, in agriculture, AEGIS can increase crop yields for farmers and growers by automating the growth/cultivation process.

For example, AEGIS can detect/predict growth anomalies in crops as well as suggest remedies, (like increasing or decreasing exposure, water, etc).

In Industry 4.0 applications, AEGIS can provide increased automation and predictive maintenance. For example, determining when machinery is faulty or nearing end of life based on vibration or sound pattern deviations.

AEGIS can also be used in commercial businesses as a security system for multiple levels of security. Its facial recognition technology eliminates the need for ID badges or electronic sign-ins by reading faces and alerting authorities if an unauthorized person is in a secured area.