How Axis Cameras Enable Edge AI Facial Recognition with ACAP and FaceMe Security

Modern edge AI cameras are enabling more scalable and efficient video surveillance deployments. With advanced processing capabilities built directly into Axis cameras, organizations can perform real-time facial recognition and video analytics at the edge while reducing reliance on centralized backend infrastructure.

Through Axis Camera Application Platform (ACAP), FaceMe® Security can be deployed directly on supported Axis cameras to deliver AI-powered facial recognition for surveillance and access control applications. By offloading processing workloads from backend servers to the camera, organizations can improve real-time recognition performance, support more video channels, and reduce infrastructure requirements and total cost of ownership (TCO).

Read on to learn how FaceMe Security and Axis ACAP help system integrators and enterprises deploy scalable surveillance and access control solutions more efficiently.

What Is Axis Camera Application Platform (ACAP)?

1. Introduction to ACAP

The Axis Camera Application Platform (ACAP) is an open application platform that enables developers and technology partners to deploy AI-powered applications directly on supported Axis cameras and devices.

Designed for flexible edge and hybrid deployments, ACAP supports a wide range of video analytics, surveillance, and access control applications across different industries and use cases.

2. FaceMe® Security Deploys Edge AI Facial Recognition through ACAP

As an Axis Technology Integration Partner, CyberLink enables FaceMe® Security to be deployed directly on supported Axis cameras through ACAP. This integration allows organizations to add AI-powered facial recognition capabilities to existing surveillance and access control environments without complex system changes.

FaceMe® Security leverages on-camera processing capabilities available on Axis cameras powered by ARTPEC processors to perform facial recognition directly at the edge for applications such as access control, visitor management, security monitoring, and real-time surveillance alert notifications.

With on-camera processing through ACAP, organizations can reduce backend server workloads, improve real-time recognition performance, and support more scalable video surveillance deployments.

How Axis AI Cameras Enable Facial Recognition at the Edge

1. Overview of Axis ARTPEC Edge Processing

ARTPEC is Axis’s in-house, purpose-built system-on-chip (SoC) technology designed for network video and analytics at the edge. Equipped with a deep learning processing unit (DLPU), ARTPEC processors enable Axis cameras to run advanced video analytics and deep learning-based applications directly on the camera, helping reduce reliance on centralized servers and support more scalable video surveillance deployments.

As the latest generation of the ARTPEC platform, ARTPEC-9 further enhances on-camera video analytics performance and efficiency for demanding surveillance applications such as object detection, classification, and facial recognition.

Source: Axis

2. FaceMe® Security Optimization for ARTPEC SoCs

Powered by the NIST top-ranked FaceMe® facial recognition engine with 99.83% accuracy, FaceMe® Security is optimized for Axis ARTPEC processors, supporting both ARTPEC-8 and the latest ARTPEC-9 for high-performance facial recognition directly on supported Axis cameras.

Designed for on-premises deployments with edge computing architecture, FaceMe® Security delivers efficient on-camera facial recognition performance. Based on benchmark results using Intel NUC systems, backend hardware requirements were reduced by up to 66.7%, while the latest ARTPEC-9 achieved up to 1.4x faster performance compared to ARTPEC-8.

Benefits of Edge AI Facial Recognition on Axis AI Cameras

1. Reduced Server Workload and Lower Latency

As more organizations adopt AI-powered surveillance and access control systems, centralized server processing can quickly become a deployment bottleneck. By performing facial recognition on Axis AI cameras, FaceMe® Security helps reduce backend server workloads while lowering streaming bandwidth between cameras and backend systems.

With facial recognition processing performed closer to the video source, organizations can achieve lower latency and improved real-time responsiveness for applications such as access control, visitor management, and surveillance alert notifications.

2. Reduced Infrastructure Cost and Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Moving facial recognition workloads from centralized servers to Axis AI cameras also helps simplify deployment architecture and reduce infrastructure requirements.

Source: Axis

For system integrators and enterprises deploying large-scale surveillance environments, this combination of edge AI processing, lower infrastructure dependency, and scalable deployment architecture can help reduce TCO while improving operational efficiency.

System Integration and Deployment with Axis Technologies

1. Integration with Axis Camera Station Pro

FaceMe® Security supports a wide range of video management systems, including Milestone XProtect, Genetec Security Center, and other leading VMS platforms. This flexibility allows system integrators and organizations to deploy facial recognition within existing surveillance environments without major infrastructure changes.

FaceMe® Security also integrates seamlessly with Axis Camera Station Pro, Axis’s native video management platform designed for tight integration with Axis devices and security solutions. Within the Axis Camera Station Pro interface, FaceMe® Security enables real-time facial recognition alerts for VIPs, employees, and blocklisted individuals, helping organizations enhance surveillance monitoring and access control operations through a unified security environment.

2. Real-Time DIDO Action Trigger via Axis VAPIX® API

Axis VAPIX® is an open API framework designed for integration between Axis devices and external applications. Through the Axis VAPIX® Application API, FaceMe® Security can trigger real-time actions on Axis cameras equipped with DIDO modules based on facial recognition events.

This enables automated actions such as opening doors for authorized personnel, triggering alarms when blocklisted individuals are detected, and activating real-time surveillance notifications for security and access control applications.

End-to-End Facial Recognition Architecture with Axis Cameras

FaceMe® Security enables a complete end-to-end facial recognition architecture across Axis cameras, edge AI processing, VMS platforms, and real-time alerting and response. This integrated approach simplifies deployment while delivering high performance, scalability, and operational efficiency.

Conclusion

With support for Axis AI cameras, Axis Camera Application Platform (ACAP), Axis Camera Station Pro (ACS), and Axis VAPIX® API integration, FaceMe® Security enables organizations to deploy scalable edge AI facial recognition within existing surveillance and access control environments.

Through on-camera AI processing and flexible system integration, organizations can reduce backend infrastructure dependency, improve real-time responsiveness, and scale surveillance deployments more efficiently with lower TCO.