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Visible Firearm Detection

Respond faster in emergencies with Elevate VFD. Detect firearms using advanced edge analytics and cloud AI gun detection, all with human verification.

Trusted by 100,000+ organizations across the globe

Proactive firearm detection

Pelco Elevate VFD helps you quickly address brandish firearm-related threats by rapidly detecting guns and integrating with existing VMS deployments for a swift, coordinated response.

Detect threats in seconds

Detects visible firearms in seconds with AI-powered camera analytics. VFD reduces false alarms and provides critical context to operators when every second matters.

  • Edge and cloud AI detection

    Utilizes dual-layer AI to detect visible firearms in real-time

  • Reduce false alarms

    Decrease false positives with human verification

  • Average five-second detection

    Notifications are delivered to operators in seconds

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Integrate with existing systems

Made for easy deployment without additional hardware, VFD is a cloud-supported analytic embedded within compatible Elevate-enabled cameras and integrates with any ONVIF-conformant VMS.

  • Open platform integration

    Compatible with any ONVIF-conformant VMS and alert systems

  • No additional server hardware needed

    Deploys directly on compatible Pelco cameras

  • Cloud-enabled and auto-updated

    Analytics improve over time with cloud-based model training

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Enable faster response in emergencies

VFD provides security teams with critical information for tailored, standardized procedural workflows, enabling rapid response, lockdown procedures and mass notifications during emergencies.

  • Predictive analytics

    Predict potential security threats by analyzing data trends and patterns

  • Continuous coverage

    24/7 threat scanning is provided for large-scale facilities and events

  • Enhanced coordination

    Helps responders act with speed and clear context

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Explore Pelco cameras with AI gun detection

How it works

Pelco Elevate Visible Firearm Detection delivers real-time intelligence to enhance safety, improve response times and reduce alarm fatigue in high-risk environments, augmenting your gun detection systems.

Detect

Cameras leverage Pelco Smart Analytics to detect humans in the scene.

Isolate

On-camera AI models isolate potential firearms to save bandwidth and boost accuracy.

Analyze

Elevate offers a second layer of threat verification, filtering over 90% of false positives.

Alert

An ONVIF-conformant event is sent from the camera to the VMS.

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Compliance and certifications

Trusted by regulated industries, Elevate meets privacy and security standards.

ISO 27001

International standard for information security

GDPR / CCPA

Global privacy compliance

SOC 2 Type II

Cloud security auditing standard

Gun detection FAQs

Pelco VFD is available through certified partners and Pelco sales representatives. Contact us to request a demo, quote or deployment consultation tailored to your site.
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AI gun detection is a visual security technology that uses artificial intelligence to identify firearms in live video feeds. Pelco Elevate VFD is a cloud-supported, AI-based video analytic that identifies the presence or absence of handheld firearms in real time.
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Pelco Elevate VFD leverages a multi-layered approach. Compatible Pelco cameras use edge-based AI for initial detection of suspected firearms in hand. Images are then sent to the Elevate cloud for validation, with false events filtered out. Machine learning further analyzes the image to confirm a firearm, and an ONVIF event is generated for your VMS. Optional human verification further reduces the likelihood of false positives.
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VFD is ideal for high-risk public spaces where unrestricted movement of people occurs. This includes education (K‑12 and post-secondary), healthcare facilities, retail (malls/​parking structures), commercial spaces (manufacturing), city security and places of worship. It is designed to provide rapid detection and enable swift, proactive response to potential gun-related threats in various public and private facilities.
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VFD detects visible handguns and long guns such as rifles and shotguns. It’s trained on real-world datasets to identify weapon shape, size and context across camera angles.
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Unlike passive tools and other weapon detection systems, VFD detects visible firearms from a distance using AI, with no physical contact, bottlenecks or added infrastructure — ideal for open, high-traffic spaces.
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Key benefits include rapid detection of handheld firearms, improved detection accuracy by reducing false alarms, enhanced psychological reassurance for occupants, human-in-the-loop verification, real-time alerts integrated with existing VMS and efficient crisis mitigation through standardized response workflows.
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No. VFD is supported on select models with AI analytics and Elevate cloud connectivity. Check camera compatibility or consult with a Pelco representative for recommendations.
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You only need a supported Elevate-enabled Pelco camera and an associated subscription license. No additional on-premise hardware or dedicated cloud servers are required, making it a cost-effective and easy-to-deploy solution for your security needs.
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No video analytics system or gun detection software is 100 percent accurate. VFD accuracy can be influenced by factors like lighting, shadows and object shape. To address this, Pelco Elevate VFD includes an optional human-centric approach for final review by trained security analysts, which significantly enhances reliability and reduces false positives.
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Have questions? We can help

Our video security experts can help you implement the right security system for your business.