Predator

Copyright 2026 V0LT - Conner Vieira

The ultimate customizable dashcam/license plate recognition platform.

Disclaimer

While Predator is designed to be stable and reliable, you should not depend on it for safety or security-critical tasks. See the SECURITY.md document for more information.

Clarification

This is the repository for the original version of Predator (often referred to as "vanilla Predator" or "main-line Predator" for clarity). Predator is intended to be a self-contained dash-cam platform with ALPR capabilities. It operates primarily offline, and is not intended for CCTV analysis. To learn more about alternative Predator editions (i.e. versions more suited for stationary home/property security) and the rest of the Predator ecosystem, see https://v0lttech.com/predator/ecosystem.php.

Support

If you're interested in commissioning a custom ALPR product using technology from Predator, or need assistance with the installation process, don't hesitate to contact V0LT.

Description

Predator is a customizable camera platform focused primarily on license plate recognition in an automotive context. Predator is similar to a traditional dash-cam, but adds license plate recognition, object identification, motion detection, and many additional features. It can detect license plates and recognize objects in both pre-recorded video and real-time video streams, or simply capture video like a typical dash-cam. Predator strives to be the ultimate dash-cam platform for both technical hobbyists and customers with unique needs.

Download

Downloads for stable releases of Predator can be found here.

Documentation

Installation, set-up, and usage documentation can be found in the DOCUMENTATION.md file, which is included in the downloads linked above.

Modes

Predator is an extremely versatile platform, and supports several different modes to better support all situations and use cases.

Management Mode (0)

Management mode isn't a primary mode of Predator, but it allows the user to configure, maintain, and manage Predator from within the program.

Pre-recorded Mode (1)

Pre-recorded mode allows Predator to analyze pre-recorded video, and detect license plates and objects.

Real-time Mode (2)

Real-time mode allows Predator to detect license plates and objects in real-time video streams.

Dash-cam Mode (3)

Dash-cam mode allows Predator to record video like a traditional dash-cam, with customizable overlays and video processing.

Use Cases

Predator is an extremely customizable platform designed to fit a wide variety of use cases. Here are some examples that highlight what Predator is capable of.

Custom Dashcam

Predator allows technically minded users to build their own dash-cam to their specifications. Whether you want a clean and concealed install, or an advanced multi-channel setup, Predator gives you more flexibility than any other dash-cam platform.

Secure Recording

Predator can be used by activists, political dissidents, and other targeted individuals to record activity in and around their vehicle to an encrypted medium. This makes it expotentially more difficult for an adversary to obtain recordings, compared to a traditional consumer dash-cam.

Discrete Recording

Predator allows installers to make use of custom GPIO inputs to fully integrate the dash-cam with the vehicle. This means Predator can be very effectively concealed, which makes your vehicle a less appealing target.

AMBER Alert Detection

Predator's ALPR capabilities make it easy to set up alerts for license plates. When an AMBER alert is issued in your area, adding the associated license plate to your ALPR hot-list allows you to help rescue missing children without needing to distract your attention from driving.

Corporate/Law Enforcement Vehicle Cameras

Predator's advanced dash-cam capabilities enable features that are useful to enterprise users with unique needs. Predator's customizable video overlays allow you to review the speed and location of a vehicle, as well as custom relay triggers that can monitor actions like braking, horn use, warning lights, and sirens.

Pre-recorded Video Analysis

In addition to real-time computer vision analysis, Predator is capable of analyzing pre-recorded video from any source with license plate identification and object recognition. When using Predator's built-in dash-cam capabilities, pre-recorded mode allows you to automatically analyze previously recorded dash-cam video with just a few button presses.

Features

Completely Private

Since Predator is open source, self-hosted, offline, and self-contained, you can rest assured that it's completely private, and that it doesn't share any of the information it collects.

Offline Capable

Predator works entirely offline, and never needs to connect to the internet to function. All internet-based functionality is entirely optional and non-critical to normal operation.

Open Source

Predator, and all of its dependencies, are free and open source from top to bottom, meaning you can study how it works, make changes, and distribute it to others freely.

Generic Hardware

By design, Predator doesn't require specialized hardware to run. While higher resolution cameras will obviously yield better results, any video format supported by FFMPEG will work with Predator.

Highly Customizable

Predator is extremely customizable, making it easy to fit into any use case. Whether you want an intelligent security camera, a powerful dashcam, or an advanced object recognition platform, Predator can be adjusted to fit your needs.

Mobile Ready

Predator is designed to support low-energy-usage hardware such that it can be easily installed in a vehicle. A single USB port is often enough to power an entire Predator system.

Location Aware

Predator supports both live GPS and static GPX files to allow license plates to be correlated to their physical coordinates. This makes information gathered from analyzing long streams of dashcam video much more useful and effective.

Customizable Alerts

Predator supports customizable real-time alerts, allowing the user to be notified when a license plate matching a hot-list is detected via audible sound alerts, visual cues, and push notifications.

Distraction Free

Predator is designed to be safe, regardless of the installation context. It's easy to configure Predator to completely hands (and eyes) free, ensuring that you don't have to look away from the road when Predator runs in a vehicle.

Full Dashcam

Predator comes with a fully featured dash-cam mode, allowing for customizable recording without processing license plates. Dash-cam videos can later be processed by Predator in pre-recorded mode if desired. Predator's dash-cam mode allows for multi-channel recording, provided the hardware supports it, making it easy to simultaneously record multiple angles using multiple cameras.

Headless Ready

While Predator comes with a straight-forward command-line interface, it can be fully configured to run in headless mode, without any user interaction necessary. This makes it perfect for vehicle installations, where the driver wants Predator to automatically start when the vehicle turns on.

Object Recognition

In addition to license plate scanning, Predator also supports general object recognition. It can collect a list of common objects and save them to a file, making it easy to find important events.

Well Documented

Predator's extreme customizability can be a bit overwhelming to new users. For this reason, Predator is extensively documented, and comes bundled with step-by-step guides on how to download, install, configure, and run it.

Adaptive Frame-rate

Predator automatically adapts to changing lighting conditions in both real-time and dashcam mode by allowing the frame-rate to change dynamically over time. Predator automatically detects frame-rate changes, and updates the playback speed of saved video files accordingly.

Buffered Recording

In dash-cam mode, when parking mode is active, Predator will keep a video buffer of customizable length at all times. This means that Predator can go "back in time" when motion is detected, and save the last few seconds of video retroactively.

Multi-Channel Recording

Predator's dash-cam recording capabilities support an arbitrary number of video channels. As long as you have sufficient processing power and /O bandwidth, Predator allows you to connect as many cameras as you want. Even if you exceed your device's processing capabilities, Predator will continue recording at a lower frame-rate to ensure you don't miss any important events.

GPIO Integration

Predator supports GPIO features that allow you to customize your install with physical buttons and relays. Predator can be configured to save dash-cam video when a GPIO circuit is closed, or even display the state of a relay in a dash-cam overlay.

Screenshots

Real-time Mode Alert

When operating in real-time mode, Predator can display alerts when it detects a plate found in a configured database.

Pre-recorded Mode Sample Image

While operating in pre-recorded mode, Predator can analyze any video, including dashcam video. Note that the screenshot below is for demonstrative purposes, and shows what kinds of information Predator can detect. It does not accurately reflect the Predator user interface.

Pre-recorded Sample Analysis

After scanning through an entire pre-recorded video based on user-configured preferences, Predator can display and export all of the plat