Shopping malls can analyse foot traffic and customer entry and exit data using solid-state lidar technology from Quanergy Systems, a provider of lidar sensors and smart perception products.

The California-based company has unveiled solid-state lidar-based access control and people counter products for physical security and smart space applications for retailers and other users.

The product line includes the company’s 3D AI-powered perception software, Qortex, combined with the S3-2, a 100% solid-state lidar sensor for building access control and people counting. The sensors contain no moving or vibrating parts, enabling higher performance, longevity and cost efficiency while requiring less power than other technologies.

The Quanergy Flow Management platform, which in addition to the Qortex access control and people counter includes Qortex DTC and a set of APIs, enables the development of services for retail, airports, public venues, commercial and government buildings, and industrial warehouses.

“Enterprise and government organisations alike are looking to increase the security of their critical assets, and optimise the flow of people in very large and challenging environments while preserving people’s privacy and leveraging their existing security and operational environments,” said Enzo Signore, CMO of Quanergy. “For this reason, we have designed the Quanergy Flow Management platform to enable end-users, systems integrators and application developers to build advanced solutions for security and smart spaces.”

The patent-pending products are said to provide 98% detection accuracy in some of the most challenging use cases and environments.

“Lidar technology is a key enabler for a broad range of security and smart spaces applications around the world,” said Preeti Wadhwani, assistant manager at Global Market Insights. “Quanergy Flow Management platform, including its new Qortex access control and people counter products, can address a global market estimated at $876m in 2025, projected to grow at a CAGR of 43.7% from 2019 to 2025.”

Thanks to its machine-learning perception software, its ability to work in all lighting conditions and to provide zero PII (personally identifiable information) risk that protects individual privacy, the access control and people counter products are said to provide accuracy, privacy and operational range better than technologies such as cameras and infra-red or thermal sensors, and can be used across a broad range of applications.

Qortex access control is suited to high security, building applications, such as governmental and commercial buildings that require a high level of accuracy and a low rate of false alarms. The product, when integrated with badging and biometric access systems, offers technology to block tailgaters and ensure that only authorised personnel enter secure areas.

The people counter provides accurate data that can be analysed to understand people and crowd flow within smart buildings. The data produced can be used to determine room, floor or building occupancy and foot traffic for purposes such as more efficient energy and workspace use. It can also help optimise resources dedicated to cleaning or serving areas in public locations such as airports or stadiums.

In retail shopping malls, analysis of foot traffic and customer entry and exit data can be used to help draw conclusions around optimal shopping hours and facilitate store planning.

Quantum IT, one of Quanergy’s partners, is deploying the people counter at an iconic stadium in Australia to help improve customer experience through monitoring queue length and people counting, while simultaneously providing insights around the correlation of ticket sales and food and beverage operations.

“We strive to create customer-centric solutions that address specific needs of customers,” said Mark O’Reilly, head of innovation for Quantum IT. “The Qortex access control and people counter products are a key part of the design of various solutions, as they provide highly accurate, reliable and scalable technology that fits the needs of our customers.”

Quanergy is showing the S3-2 sensor on its stand 9329 in the Vehicle Mobility Hall during this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and demoing people counting to track real-time traffic flow on the showroom floor.

Quanergy Systems was founded in 2012 and builds on decades of experience of its team in the areas of optics, photonics, optoelectronics, artificial intelligence software and control systems. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, it is a provider of lidar sensors and perception software for real-time capture and processing of 3D spatial data and object detection, identification, classification and tracking.