time-lapse-region-based-motion-detection

[BlackVue DR900S/DR750S] New Time Lapse, Region-Based Motion Detection Parking Modes

 

With the latest firmware and software releases, the BlackVue DR900S Series and DR750S Series receive two major Parking Mode upgrades: 

  • Brand new Time Lapse mode (with buffered Events) > Select “Time lapse”.
  • Improved Motion & Impact Detection mode (with region-based motion detection) > Select “Motion & Impact detection”.

Access Parking Mode settings under Firmware settings > Basic > Recording > Parking mode recording.

 

Compatibility (as of August 13, 2018)

Dashcam Models:

  • DR900S Series (DR900S-1CH, DR900S-2CH) with firmware 1.004 and up.
  • DR750S Series (DR750S-1CH, DR750S-2CH, DR750S-2CH IR, DR750S-2CH TRUCK) with firmware 1.010 and up.

Software version:

  • BlackVue App: Android / iOS v2.76 and up.
  • BlackVue Viewer: Windows v1.22 / Mac v1.23 and up.
  • BlackVue Viewer Pro: Windows v1.12.

New Time Lapse with Buffered Events

30 times longer recording time on your microSD card

Time Lapse Parking Mode allows your dashcam to continuously record at 1FPS (one frame per second). Videos are played back at 30FPS. 
Each one-minute video recorded covers a 30-minute period. 

No more worrying over files getting overwritten in Parking Mode.
Put simply, each hour of Time Lapse video covers a real-time period of 30 hours.
In other words, a DR900S-2CH with a 16GB microSD card–55 minutes recording front and rear in Extreme mode–could run for over 27 hours in Time Lapse Parking Mode before starting to loop.
Pretty cool, right?

Time Lapse files are categorized as Parking Mode (marked “P” in the file list).

Buffered Event videos in case of impact detected

Now, there are still going to be situations where you want to have an actual video, because 1FPS might not be sufficient.

That is why BlackVue’s Time Lapse mode also includes buffered Event recording.
It means in case of a hit-and-run, your BlackVue switches to regular Event recording, including the 5-6 seconds before the impact. 

 

 

 

Improved Motion & Impact Detection

An upgrade to the existing Parking Mode

region-based-motion-detection-blackvue-app

 

The “regular” Parking Mode detects both:

  • motions recorded by the image sensor (Parking Mode files marked “P” in the file list)
  • impacts detected by the accelerometer/G-sensor (Event files marked “E” in the file list).

In both cases, the files recorded include the 5-6 seconds leading to the trigger (motion or impact).

Motion detection is useful to detect and record everything happening around your parked car, even when nobody actually bumps into it. 

Someone keying your vehicle, for example, might not create a sufficiently strong vibration to trigger the impact sensor, but as long as the vandal gets into the dashcam’s frame, they will be on camera.

A drawback is that in areas with a lot of traffic, motion detection triggers often. This means you can end up with potentially irrelevant videos of passing cars or far-away moving objects, for example.

Ignore unnecessary areas to reduce false-positives

Now, with the new Region-based Motion Detection, you are given a 4×4 grid of 16 selectable “regions” (Go to Firmware settings > Sensitivity > Motion detection (Parking Mode)).
By default all regions are active and trigger motion detection. If you want to ignore the trees swaying in the wind, for example, you can do so by deselecting the regions making up the upper row. If your hood reflects the sky, you could deselect the regions covering it, and so on. 

Which mode should you choose?

It is up to you of course, but here are a few things to consider:

  • Small-capacity microSD card? Time lapse is your best choice, especially if you use a dual-channel dashcam.
  • Large-capacity microSD card? You can choose either mode.
  • Want audio in all circumstances? Choose Motion & Impact detection (Time lapse videos do not include audio, although the Event videos do).
  • Parked in a quiet area with little action? Motion & Impact detection is best. 
  • Parked in a busy area with lots of vehicle and foot traffic? Time lapse can help.
  • Want to have a quick overview of everything that happens around your parked car? Time lapse is your friend.
  • Want to record only impact Event videos? Choose Motion & Impact detection, then turn off motion detection under Firmware settings > Sensitivity > Motion detection (Parking Mode).