Macnica and iD Jointly Develop AI-Equipped "SPE (Single Pair Ethernet) Camera" - Providing a system that enables communication, power supply, long-distance transmission, and human/object detection over a single cable -

Macnica (headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara; hereinafter Macnica) and iD Corporation (headquarters: Hakodate, Hokkaido; President and Board Director: Yoichiro Otake; hereinafter "iD") announced today the development of the "SPE Camera," which supports Single Pair Ethernet (hereinafter "SPE ^*1") technology, which simultaneously achieves high-speed data communication and power supply over a single twisted pair cable. SPE solves the issues of complex wiring and limited installation space that conventional industrial cameras have, and contributes to the promotion of IoT and digital transformation (DX) in factories, buildings, and homes.

■ Issues and development background
In recent years, the manufacturing industry has been accelerating its efforts to realize smart factories and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), leading to a growing demand for collecting and utilizing data from a variety of devices. However, conventional Ethernet-based systems have been difficult to install in small spaces or on mobile devices due to factors such as thick cables and complex wiring. Furthermore, in many cases, a power cable is required in addition to the data cable, which increases costs and labor, creating major challenges (see the top diagram in Figure 1 below).

Macnica and iD have focused on SPE, a promising next-generation industrial network technology, and have decided to develop the "SPE Camera" to solve the challenges posed by cameras, such as board space and connector size. SPE technology enables communication and power supply over a single thin cable, making it suitable for installation in small spaces or on mobile devices, simplifying wiring and reducing costs (see the bottom of Figure 1 below). Furthermore, the camera itself performs Edge AI processing on an SoC, and by incorporating AI image processing technology that can handle high-performance AI processing on the server side as needed, they have successfully developed an "SPE Camera" capable of identifying people and objects in real time using AI. Furthermore, customization is also possible, and incorporating SPE into a company's own cameras can also reduce the size of the mounting board.

Figure 1. Difference between a conventional network system and a system using SPE cables

■ Features of the "SPE Camera"
<Ultra-small connector, lightweight, no power cable required>
・Communication and power supply are carried out simultaneously using one pair (one cable)
- Space saving (over 50% space reduction compared to RJ45/smaller mounting board)
- Long distance video transmission (up to 140m)
- Excellent cable management
・No AC power cable required
・AI-based human/object detection
　
<System configuration diagram>
The power supply to the "SPE camera" is a PoE-compatible SPE switch ^{* 2} Supports RTSP streaming from "SPE Camera" ^{* 3} You can check the results on your PC. The inference is performed by Thundercomm's SOM ^{* 4} It is being implemented in.

Figure 2. SPE camera system configuration diagram

■ Future outlook
Through the development of the "SPE Camera," Macnica and iD will contribute to the digital transformation of manufacturing sites and the advancement of social infrastructure. Going forward, the two companies will continue their joint development and, starting with the newly announced "SPE Camera," will expand the SPE product lineup by customizing it to meet customer needs, while strengthening collaboration with partner companies and promoting the creation of an SPE ecosystem.

*1: SPE is a technology standardized by IEEE and is used in automobiles, and is expected to be expanded to existing applications such as industrial machinery and homes by 2030. SPE enables Ethernet communication and DC power supply simultaneously using a single pair of cables, and can also reduce the amount of cable material used by approximately one-quarter.

*2: This is an Ethernet switch that supports SPE and PoE, and enables communication and power supply with one pair of cables.

*3: RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) is a control protocol for streaming multimedia data such as audio and video over IP networks.

*4: Thundercomm's SOM (System on Module) performs inference using the Yolov5m model to detect people and objects.

[Click here for product details]
https://www.macnica.co.jp/business/semiconductor/macnica_products/spe/index.html

[For product inquiries, please click here]
Macnica FINESSE Company Torisu/Kubota
TEL: 045-470-9831 E-mail: spe@macnica.co.jp

iD Co., Ltd. Corporate Planning Department Omiya
TEL: 0138-35-3313 E-mail: info@intelligent-design.co.jp

*Company names and product names mentioned in the text are trademarks or registered trademarks of each company.
*The information published in the news release (including product price, specifications, etc.) is current as of the date of announcement. Please note that the information may be subject to change without prior notice.