What if walls could sense danger beyond cameras? A camera-free, AI-driven device called HALO says yes. From detecting vaping, distress, to aggression and threats in real-time, Motorola’s Pradeep Nair narrates everything about this innovation to EFY’s Akanksha Sondhi Gaur.
Q. What is Halo, and how does it differ from conventional surveillance or IoT (Internet of Things) sensors?
A. Halo is a privacy-first, non-invasive device that integrates 16 intelligent sensing functions in a single unit. These include vaping and drug-use detection, aggression and gunshot detection, distress keyword recognition, occupancy counting, and environmental and air quality monitoring. It operates without cameras or microphones. Halo complements existing security systems, integrates with over 80 third-party platforms, and provides real-time alerts using AI (artificial intelligence) and edge computing. All analysis occurs locally at the edge, while optional cloud integration enables extended analytics and predictive insights.
Q. Can you share some typical use cases, particularly for India?
A. The sensor is so versatile that it can be deployed across multiple sectors. In education, it can help to curb vaping and detect signs of aggression or bullying through sound and keyword analysis. In healthcare, it monitors signs of distress in emergency rooms or psychiatric wards and helps to maintain optimal air quality. Government and public infrastructure, including airports, metros, transport hubs, and data centres, benefit from smoke and vaping detection, aggression detection and environmental tracking. In hospitality, it can discreetly identify unauthorised smoking or drug use in guest rooms, ensuring compliance without compromising privacy. For data centres, the device consolidates temperature, humidity, pressure, noise, and occupancy monitoring while supporting access control and compliance, reducing the need for multiple devices.
Q. Does Halo work with existing systems, and how is privacy ensured?
A. Halo complements, rather than replaces, existing systems. It integrates with building management systems (BMS), video management systems (VMS), and access control. In privacy-sensitive areas such as washrooms, VIP lounges, or boardrooms, where cameras are restricted, it provides discreet monitoring. Fully GDPR-compliant, the device detects signs of aggression or distress by identifying keywords without recording video or audio, and sends secure alerts to two-way radios, VMS, or enterprise apps, providing a balance of privacy-first and safety-first capabilities.
Q. How do AI, machine learning (ML), and edge computing enhance the sensor’s capabilities?
A. Detection is done at the sensor level for real-time alerts, which is critical for emergencies. AI algorithms improve anomaly detection and minimise false positives. For example, vaping detection has been highly accurate. Edge and cloud deployments enable both real-time alerts and long-term analytics for compliance, audits, and predictive monitoring. Halo uses edge AI for anomaly detection at the sensor level, providing instant alerts. Data is simultaneously streamed to the cloud for analytics, notifications, and six months of historical tracking. AI algorithms help deliver high accuracy for general sensing and vaping detection.
Q. Coming to India, what adoption challenges do you anticipate here?
A. Traditional CCTV dominates in India today, so we highlight that Halo is not competing with cameras; it complements them, as I said earlier. We want to raiseawareness and education on the need for intelligent smart sensors to complement video security systems. We engage with system integrators and channel partners in the local market, and have been conducting live demos, regional events, and proofs-of-concept for schools, hospitals, and government institutions.
Q. What business model and distribution strategy are you taking in India?
A. We use a hybrid approach, engaging directly on large critical infrastructure projects such as metros and airports, while scaling through channel partners, system integrators, and distributors to reach diverse customer segments nationwide. Our teams support partners with onboarding, training, and ongoing assistance.
Q. How is premium positioning maintained in India’s cost-sensitive market?
A. Many Indian customers, particularly public sector and security-focused organisations, prioritise quality and performance over cost, particularly where safety is critical. Our customers, especially in critical infrastructure, healthcare, and enterprise, value reliability and privacy above cost. While India is price-sensitive, end users requiring critical safety solutions are willing to invest in high-quality, long-term products. We offer a five-year warranty and even a 10-year warranty for customers opting for long-term cloud services.
Q. Are there any India-specific product variants?
A. For India, full compliance was prioritised, and the complete product range is now available.
Q. Are these made in India?
A: Halo sensors are currently imported and distributed through partners. While there is no local manufacturing, robust after-sales support is provided through authorised service centres and technical teams across India.
Q. What is Motorola’s three to five-year vision for Halo in India?
A. Overall, the immediate focus is on critical infrastructure and premium enterprise customers, but our long-term goal is widespread adoption, including residential, hospitality and healthcare settings. We aim to set the standard for privacy-first, integrated IoT safety devices across India.
Q. India is cost-sensitive. How do you balance affordability with premium security positioning?
A. Our customers, particularly in critical infrastructure, healthcare, and enterprise, value reliability and privacy above cost. Halo carries a five-year warranty (ten-year warranty with extended licensing) and proven durability, loweringthe total cost of ownership compared to low-end sensors that fail frequently.
Q. What role does India play in Motorola’s R&D and engineering footprint?
A. India is a significant R&D hub for Motorola Solutions, especially in radio communications, video security software, and broadband push-to-talk. Feedback from Indian pilots directly shapes Halo’s features. While core Halo R&D is US-based, our Indian engineering teams influence localisation and future developments.
Q. Can you share future roadmap details in India?
A. More advancements and features are scheduled for release next year, with enhanced environmental monitoring, AI-driven analytics, and deeper system integrations. In the longer term, we aim to expand beyond enterprise and infrastructure into broader use cases, including residential settings.
Q. Finally, how do you envision Halo’s role in India’s evolving IoT landscape?
A. Over the next couple of years, Halo will be adopted across critical infrastructure, healthcare, education, and public transport. Our vision is to enable privacy-first situational awareness in every sensitive environment. Combined with Motorola Solutions’ ecosystem of radios, video, and access control, Halo supports a truly end-to-end communication and safety architecture.
