EdgeAI Module Quick Start

Get up and running with your EdgeAI device.

Quick Start Guide

Follow the steps below to get your Aero Ranger EdgeAI module up and running.

Included accessories

Please check you have received the following items:

  • 1x Aero Ranger edgeAI device

  • 2x 4G/LTE antenna (SMA connector)

  • 1x GPS antenna (SMA connector)

  • 1x WiFi antenna (RP-SMA connector)

  • 1x Cigarette lighter power cable

  • 1x Wall adapter power supply


Connect your accessories

Cameras

Two (2) Power over Ethernet (PoE) cameras can be plugged Ethernet Port 1 and Port 2 of the device. Do not connect more than two (2) cameras.

Refer to the FAQ section below for more detail about the camera input ports.

Antenna

Connect all antennae before turning the device on. All antenna ports are on the rear side panel of the device. Each connector is labelled (see Figure 2).

4G/LTE: There are two (2) SMA connectors for 4G/LTE.
The connector closest to the HDMI connector is the main 4G/LTE antenna, and the one closest to the Wi-Fi antenna connector is the auxiliary 4G/LTE antenna.
WiFi: There is one (1) RP-SMA connector for the Wi-Fi hotspot functionality
GPS: There is one (1) SMA connector for the GPS

Power

The EdgeAI module should be powered from a 12V power source capable of supplying 5 amps. Most modern vehicle cigarette lighter sockets should be able to supply enough power to the edgeAI module.

Alternatively, you can use the included 240volt to a 12-volt transformer

To turn on the device, connect power and the device will automatically boot up.

WiFi

When the device turns on, the WiFi router of the edgeAI module will create a network which you can join on your iOS device. It may take 60 to 90 seconds for the WiFi network to appear after turning on the device. The WiFi credentials are listed on the bottom of the edgeAI module. It may be a good idea to take a photograph of the credentials as once the device is installed, you may not be able to see the sticker on the bottom.

Camera setup

Correct camera selection, placement, and settings are vital to ensure your system performs the best it can.

Minimum/recommended camera specs

  • Must be an IP camera that can output an RTSP stream (H264 only, H265 does not work with the unit)

  • Must be tight FoV (not wide-angle or fisheye), adjustable zoom level preferred

  • Must be 1080p (2mp) or higher (if higher, must be able to downscale output to 1080p)

  • Must be able to prioritise high shutter speeds to capture motion

  • Must have IR illumination to function at night, with an extra 10m rated IR illumination than the intended target location. In this case, the camera must be mounted with a direct line of sight to the target location (not behind glass)

Recommended cameras

We recommend any IP camera that has a high level of optical zoom (15x minimum).

Recommended camera placement

The distance from which the system can capture accurate plate data depends on the focal length of the camera. With a higher power zoom level, we can capture plates from further away. With a 30x zoom camera, the system can accurately capture reads from a 150m distance

To increase read accuracy, make sure the license plate is on as little angle as possible (see Figure 1)

Figure 1

If the license plate is at an angle of 30 degrees or more, accuracy will become largely decreased. If cameras are mounted inside or on a vehicle, mount the camera as high as possible so it does not get glare from the headlights of other vehicles

In Figure 2, the left image shows the vehicle is quite large in the frame due to the zoom level of the camera.

Figure 2

This means the plate is large enough to be accurately read. In figure 2, the right image shows the vehicle is small in the frame due to it being too far away from the camera (the camera not zoomed enough). The camera is also a bit too high, resulting in a skewed view of the plate. This does not allow for ideal plate reading conditions.

Camera power requirements

The Aero Ranger edgeAI unit requires a 12 volt 10A (120w) capable power supply to supply enough power for four cameras. The typical current is 1A @ 13.8VDC (13.8W) without any PoE loads, and the peak is 10A (138W) with full PoE loads at start-up

The device can output 802.3af PoE delivering 12.95W to each port (peak 15.4W per port).

The system draws ~25W when powering one 802.3af PTZ camera.