March Networks unveiled the new RideSafe XT IP NVR recording platform at APTA EXPO in Orlando, Fla.

RideSafe XT delivers a first-of-its-kind Sleep Mode capability enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) to help transit agencies eliminate damage and risk when buses are out of service.

"Vandalism is a common and expensive problem for transit agencies, as buses are often targeted while out of service and when they have no ability to record motion or unusual activity while powered down," said Net Payne, chief sales & marketing officer at March Networks. "Sleep Mode with March Networks' RideSafe XT is the first capability on the market to leverage AI video analytics to detect people near a vehicle and instantly begin recording, saving transit agencies potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. RideSafe XT futureproofs a transit agency for all of its growing video and analytics needs."

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Purpose-built for the specific requirements of today's transportation industry, the new March Networks solution reduces security risk, keeps passengers and operators safer, and gathers more conclusive evidence than is possible today with legacy solutions, according to the company.

Buses normally are equipped with legacy recorders and standard motion sensor timers, which cost $300 to $450 per unit, are powered by the bus battery, and are slow to initialize and record unusual activity. Often, perpetrators have moved to another side of the bus or out of the area altogether before cameras are triggered and recording begins.

RideSafe XT units, however, switch to low-power mode when buses are out of service and record directly to the NVRs SD card, based on configurable rules around parameters such as motion. This allows for around-the-clock recording coverage, with multiple cameras recording from multiple angles.

The accurate AI-enabled analytics detect the difference in motion of people versus animals or even weather, so that video is recorded only when necessary. Then, when the bus is returned to its full power state, video automatically synchronizes with the March Networks RideSafe XT network video recorder (NVR), which is available in 8, 12 and 16 channel models.

RideSafe XT

RideSafe XT uses the leading NVIDIA® System on Chip (SoC) technology and leverages a hardened Linux operating system (OS), which reduces the cyberattack footprint and offers end-to-end encryption to protect sensitive data. The plug-and-play solution can operate as a standalone unit that is programmable through embedded software, or it can be remotely managed and monitored through March Networks' Command for Transit video management solution (VMS), or other Transit Management Solutions (TMS).

The compact RideSafe XT, with its rugged design, includes solid-state storage, integrated power supply, and battery backup. It is also compliant with the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), adheres to SAE J1455 specifications, and provides IP65 protection from dust and moisture. The RideSafe XT NVR is available for all U.S. federal funding/projects.