What is the edge machine and why does OCTOps use one?

The edge machine is a compact computing unit installed on your site that runs all AI models locally. It connects to your cameras via your network and processes video in real time — without sending raw footage to the cloud.

We use an edge-first architecture for two reasons:

• Data privacy: Your operational video never leaves your facility. Only aggregated results and event-triggered clips are sent to the cloud.
• Performance: Processing video locally eliminates latency. AI analysis happens in real time, not after a round-trip to a remote server.

A single edge machine can handle 10 or more cameras simultaneously, with multiple AI models running at the same time.