The MOBOTIX LPR Approach – From Autonomous Cameras to Centralised Intelligence
MOBOTIX LPR cameras can automatically capture a wide range of vehicle characteristics. In addition to the number plate, the manufacturer, model and vehicle colour can also be reliably identified.
In many smaller applications – e.g. with one or two cameras – the systems operate completely autonomously:
Known number plates can be processed directly on the camera, so that, for example, barriers open automatically, without the need for central software.
Ideal for small, simple applications: fast, efficient and independent.
When requirements grow
As soon as systems become larger or more complex, the central software comes into play:
MOBOTIX SYNC or the identical platform Vaxtor Helix
(Vaxtor has been part of the MOBOTIX Group since 2022)
This enables you to:
- Collect data from multiple cameras centrally
- Perform statistical analyses
- Manage whitelist and blacklist entries centrally
- Roll out changes system-wide and in real time
Vaxtor is one of the world’s leading companies in the field of OCR recognition.
In addition to vehicle number plates and vehicle characteristics, Vaxtor also reliably recognises identifiers on:
- Aircraft
- Containers
- Railway wagons
- Lorries
- Barcodes
Analytics in Practice – An Example
A typical scenario:
A hardware store wants to understand where its customers come from.
By analyzing the collected data, the following can be determined:
- Which regions customers are coming from
- How marketing campaigns (e.g., flyer distribution) are impacting business
- Which locations are particularly heavily frequented
With MOBOTIX SYNC / Vaxtor Helix, this data can be:
- clearly visualized in dashboards
- individually analyzed
- and used as a basis for informed decisions
This transforms raw camera data into real added value for marketing and planning.
Centralized Whitelist and Blacklist Management
Another typical scenario:
On company grounds, barriers are supposed to open automatically for:
- Company vehicles
- Known suppliers
With a large number of vehicles and frequent changes, manually maintaining the allowed license plates (whitelist) for each camera is not practical.
The solution: Centralized management via MOBOTIX SYNC / Vaxtor Helix
- Changes are entered once centrally
- and automatically transferred to all cameras
- quickly, consistently, and error-free
Integrating Vehicle Data and Statistics with the VMS
A Single User Interface
With the MOBOTIX Sync Dashboard Plugin, analytics, LPR, and vehicle data can be displayed directly in the MOBOTIX HUB VMS.
The advantage:
- All information in a single interface
- No need to switch between different systems
- Greater efficiency and user acceptance
The user can view the following simultaneously:
- Camera images
- License plates and vehicle data
- Statistics and analyses
Video showcasing the key features:
MOBOTIX Sync Dashboard Plugin – Feature Overview
This plugin extends the HUB VMS with additional dashboard elements and enables flexible layouts in the Desk Client.
Displayable content:
-
Camera streams (as usual)
-
Grafana elements from MOBOTIX SYNC, e.g.:
- Bar charts (traffic volume)
- Line charts (trend analyses)
- Pie charts (e.g., vehicle brands)
-
List of recognized license plates
-
Exporting Grafana data as a CSV file:
-
Layout with status message indicating which “external” system the connection is being established with.
Similar to the Thermal Dashboard, you can create custom layouts.
Note:
Regardless of whether you use MOBOTIX SYNC or Vaxtor Helix –
integration with the MOBOTIX HUB is handled via the same plugin.
Conclusion
The combination of MOBOTIX LPR cameras and MOBOTIX SYNC / Vaxtor Helix offers a scalable solution:
Start small – standalone MOBOTIX camera- Expand easily – central platform MOBOTIX SYNC / Vaxtor Helix
- Integrate everything – in the MOBOTIX HUB
From a simple barrier opener to a data-driven analytics platform – all in one system.
Playback Options:
- In the playback view, clicking on a recognized number in the list (click on date/time) causes the player to jump to the corresponding event time.
- Double-clicking an item in Grafana or Cloud enlarges the item, and double-clicking it again shrinks the item.
The relevant configuration steps in Sync for integrating Grafana dashboards into the layout:
Important: To integrate Graphana views, you must enable basic authentication in the Sync Server.
MOBOTIX SYNC - Enable Basic Authentication for third party access
Individual dashboards can be created in the Dashboards section of MOBOTIX Sync.
Each created dashboard will be available for selection in the Desk Client’s layout settings.
You can create a new panel using the “Create” dashboard and the “Add New Panel” option.
In the menu, you can configure individual data and forms to define how the dashboard should look.
IMPORTANT: The assigned name will appear as an option in the drop-down menu in the layout settings.
Creating a Desk Client layout with a Grafana dashboard:
The new MOBOTIX SYNC element is now available as a layout element in the sidebar. After placing the element in the layout, you can select the SYNC instance (provided it has been created beforehand in the Management Client using general access credentials such as the URL and user account).
Select the appropriate Grafana dashboard:
Management client settings for SYNC or Vaxtor Helix:
Requirements:
- MOBOTIX HUB L2 or higher
- MOBOTIX P7 camera, such as the M73, with Vaxtor ALPR or the Make Model Color app enabled
- MOBOTIX SYNC / Vaxtor Helix Server + Grafana Plug-In
- MOBOTIX Plug-In version March 2024 or newer
The MOBOTIX SYNC feature is supported starting with MOBOTIX HUB Level 2 and higher!
Important: The “Tab” in the Desk Client can also be used without the Grafana plugin. To display SYNC Server data in the layout, such as lists of license plates or statistical graphs, etc., Grafana can be purchased later for the MOBOTIX SYNC Server if needed (separate license).