HomeKit False Positive Package Notifications

[randyw57]

HomeKit Hub on Apple TV 4K 2nd Gen running tvOS 15.5.1.
iPad Air Gen 4 running iPadOS 15.5.
Logitech Circle View Cameras

We have a Logitech Circle View Camera at our front porch.
I’ve enabled ‘Packages are Detected’ for the camera.
We are getting false positives for the camera.
I get a notification. However, there is no package. When I review the clip I can’t see anything that might be confused for a package.
I’ll attach a screenshot of one of the clips where a package was detected.
I’ve submitted some of the clips as Feedback through Home.
Contacted Apple Support today. They checked my Settings, Software levels, etc.
And recommended setting an Activity Zone for just the porch.

1. Any suggestions as to why I might be getting these false positive Packages are Detected notifications?
2. If I establish an Activity Zone of just the porch does that mean I will no longer get clips if anything happens outside of that zone?
For example, if a person walks up the driveway but doesn’t enter the activity zone?

Thanks for any help or advice!

 

[pup]

I see five packages there. Maybe pick a different color stone?

 

[randyw57]

Doesn’t it require movement first to detect a package (or anything else)?
To test that I could create an Activity Zone around the porch? Then invert it?
That would ignore anything on the porch?

 

[TonyC28]

Is it possible as the sun gets brighter and dimmer throughout the day (clouds passing) that it may “think” the squares of your porch are packages?

 

[Itinj24]

I was thinking the same as pup and TonyC28. Might have something to with the stones and the lighting as it changes throughout the day.

How often do these notifications come through?

 

[randyw57]

1. There are a couple of these false notifications each day.
2. What likely caught my attention is I’ve never seen a false notification for a vehicle, person, or animal. Only for Package.
3. I’ll establish an Activity Zone and see if I can figure out what area the camera may be looking at when these occur.
4. I’m pretty sure when an Activity Zone is created I will no longer get clips of anything happening outside of that zone.
5. fwiw, those aren’t stones on the porch. My wife painted the porch to give it that affect!

Thanks for the help!

 

[w5jck]

I'm inclined to think the cam is seeing all the different painted squares and getting confused. Even a bird or large insect flying across the porch, or a shadow moving across it, can set off motion detection if the settings are too sensitive. I've yet to find any cam that gets movement detection totally correct, or even close. AI often equates to "artificial ignorance" rather than "artificial intelligence" with so-called "smart" devices.

BTW, your wife did a great job on the porch. It looks really good!

 

[randyw57]

I’ll pass the compliment along, w5jck! She has done that at all of our homes.
Most folks don’t realize it is paint.

I’d agree the package detection is getting confused.
It was happening every day within the same 15 minute period.
Around 5:15. The sun would be coming from the sidewalk side at that time.
I submitted a bunch of clips to Apple as Feedback on the Motion Detection.
And some googling found other reports of package detection issues with sun/shadow on ‘blocked’ surfaces like that.
Also, on wet surfaces.
Outside of this one issue, I’ve found the motion/person/package/vehicle/animal detection to be outstanding.

Thanks for the help!

 

[w5jck]

Well a 2D camera is going to be easy to fool in some situations. If they put a LiDAR system in the camera, like the iPhone 13 Pro Max has, it could use 3D to detect packages as well as 2D and be more accurate.

 

[TonyC28]

I just installed a Wemo doorbell. I’m a little disappointed in the video quality but in that department it does what it needs to. What I’m finding to be pretty bad so far is the package detection. When the sun was hitting my porch and my flag was throwing shadows around I got multiple false package notifications. I’m thinking because of the door mat. But when that box was just delivered I got no notification. It’s not a big deal but compared to the Nest Hello this replaced it needs some work.

 

[Itinj24]

I just installed a Wemo doorbell. I’m a little disappointed in the video quality but in that department it does what it needs to. What I’m finding to be pretty bad so far is the package detection. When the sun was hitting my porch and my flag was throwing shadows around I got multiple false package notifications. I’m thinking because of the door mat. But when that box was just delivered I got no notification. It’s not a big deal but compared to the Nest Hello this replaced it needs some work.
View attachment 2054096

Is this video cropped at all? I’m looking to switch from the Logitech to the Wemo but in this still shot, it looks like you’d only see the lower half of people’s bodies (going by your pillars). I want to switch for the wider camera angle. The Logitech is too narrow and I wanted to capture my whole front yard. The Nest Hello has the best wide angle yet IMO.

 

[TonyC28]

Is this video cropped at all? I’m looking to switch from the Logitech to the Wemo but in this still shot, it looks like you’d only see the lower half of people’s bodies (going by your pillars). I want to switch for the wider camera angle. The Logitech is too narrow and I wanted to capture my whole front yard. The Nest Hello has the best wide angle yet IMO.

Yes I cropped it just to show the area I was talking about. Below is the full view. That fisheye is going to take some getting used to but it’s necessary to get a view to the ground.

 

[Itinj24]

Yes I cropped it just to show the area I was talking about. Below is the full view. That fisheye is going to take some getting used to but it’s necessary to get a view to the ground.

Ahh ok, that’s much better. I’m used to the fish eye from years with the Logitech Circle 2’s but my property is very wide in the front and want to capture as much as possible without the need for more cameras.

Looks like most of the distortion is right at the doorway but better in areas where it counts. I can see your door handle and door framing for crying out loud lol. I love it! Good for capturing any tampering but hopefully it never happens. I must get one soon.

 

[Itinj24]

This is what my Logitech looks like. Not getting enough of my property and most packages go unnoticed by the camera. I’m missing the whole right side of my driveway and most of the left (Nest Hello captured all of it) and my front steps are just showing very little.

 

[TonyC28]

This is what my Logitech looks like. Not getting enough of my property and most packages go unnoticed by the camera. I missing the whole right side of my driveway and most of the left (Nest Hello captured all of it) and my front steps are just showing very little.

View attachment 2054170

I definitely like how the Wemo is showing the porch right to the door. I would definitely say your image quality is better though. I keep having to remind myself that if I want a crisp view I need a “real” camera and not just a doorbell camera.

 

[Itinj24]

I definitely like how the Wemo is showing the porch right to the door. I would definitely say your image quality is better though. I keep having to remind myself that if I want a crisp view I need a “real” camera and not just a doorbell camera.

Really? I see it the other way around. The houses across the street in our shots are about the same distance. I think yours look much more crisp. Look at the water bottle on my step. It’s terrible lol. That’s like 5’ away.

 

[TonyC28]

Really? I see it the other way around. The houses across the street in our shots are about the same distance. I think yours look much more crisp. Look at the water bottle on my step. It’s terrible lol. That’s like 5’ away.

I guess I was looking at the sky but mine is way blown out by the position of the sun.