As a core underpinning for identity verification and security protection in the digital age, biometric technology has been deeply integrated into various sectors of social production and daily life. Among its branches, iris recognition technology—bolstered by the inherent uniqueness and lifelong stability of iris textures—is emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments in this field. Driven by ongoing demands in security upgrading, financial risk control, and public services, iris recognition not only addresses the shortcomings of traditional methods (e.g., password vulnerability and physical card loss) but also demonstrates outstanding technical advantages. As a key branch of the biometric technology system, iris recognition, with its "exceptional accuracy and security," is expanding from high-security scenarios to broader civilian applications, thereby garnering significant attention from policymakers, the market, and users alike.
I. Explosive Market Growth
The iris recognition market is experiencing a period of rapid expansion. In 2020, the global shipment volume of enterprise-grade iris recognition terminals reached nearly 60 million units, corresponding to a market size of approximately USD 1.35 billion. By 2023, the global sales volume of iris recognition devices had grown to RMB 6.2 billion (about USD 900 million), with enterprise-grade terminal shipments exceeding 100 million units—representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22% from 2020 to 2023. In 2024, the global market size further climbed to USD 5.34 billion, and it is projected to reach USD 13.87 billion by 2030, maintaining a steady CAGR of 17.2% over the next six years, underscoring strong long-term growth momentum.
This growth is fueled by multiple factors, including policy support, reduced costs of 3D acquisition equipment (facilitating technology popularization), improved technical accuracy, higher penetration of multi-modal fusion solutions in financial security scenarios, and the continuous expansion of application scenarios.
II. Technological Innovation Breakthroughs by Homsh
Founded in 2011, Homsh (Wuhan Homsh Technology Co., Ltd.) is a high-tech enterprise with fully independent intellectual property rights in core iris recognition algorithms. The company has achieved significant technological breakthroughs in the field of iris recognition, successfully developing a high-efficiency iris segmentation model based on deep learning. Adopting an advanced neural network architecture, this model leads the industry in both accuracy and processing speed, with a Dice coefficient exceeding 0.97 and an Intersection over Union (IoU) exceeding 0.94.
Homsh’s newly launched OVAI Iris Recognition System features an end-to-end optimized design, innovatively integrating preprocessing, segmentation, and recognition steps. The system incorporates multi-level intelligent segmentation technology, which enhances segmentation accuracy in complex scenarios through three phases: coarse segmentation, fine segmentation, and detailed segmentation. Additionally, it introduces the CBAM (Convolutional Block Attention Module) dual attention mechanism, optimizing feature extraction from both channel and spatial attention dimensions to achieve more precise iris localization and feature extraction.
Homsh has also successfully filed two invention patents representing major technological breakthroughs: "Pupil Boundary Detection Method and System Based on Multi-Algorithm Fusion" and "Iris Image Quality Assessment Method and System".
The multi-algorithm fusion pupil boundary detection technology adopts an innovative three-stage algorithm architecture: first, Hough circle transform is used for initial localization; second, adaptive thresholding and contour detection enable precise localization; and finally, fixed thresholding and morphological operations complete boundary optimization. The system also innovatively incorporates a biological feature verification mechanism, which validates results based on the biological characteristics of the pupil, effectively eliminating false detections and significantly improving detection accuracy under complex lighting conditions.
The iris image quality assessment system establishes a multi-dimensional evaluation framework, encompassing key technologies such as Weber contrast assessment, entropy-based grayscale utilization analysis, and intelligent eyelid/eyelash detection. Innovatively, the system adopts an adjustable weight scoring mechanism, which dynamically adjusts the weight ratio of various quality indicators according to the requirements of different application scenarios to achieve personalized assessment.
These two patented technologies complement each other, jointly addressing key challenges in image acquisition and quality control for iris recognition systems. Through multi-algorithm collaboration and intelligent quality assessment, they significantly enhance the adaptability and reliability of iris recognition systems in complex environments, providing technical support for high-end application scenarios such as financial payments and security access control, and advancing the large-scale commercialization of iris recognition technology.
III. Diversified Expansion of Application Scenarios
Iris recognition technology is expanding from traditional security fields to a wider range of application scenarios.
In the field of access control, iris recognition has become a standard configuration for high-security areas. Compared with traditional access control systems, iris access control systems only require eye information collection, offering advantages such as uniqueness, stability, and anti-counterfeiting, which effectively enhance security.
In the intelligent automotive sector, iris recognition is emerging as an innovative feature in high-end vehicle models. Via vehicle-mounted infrared cameras, drivers can "unlock and start the vehicle with their eyes"; the system also automatically adjusts personalized settings such as seats and rearview mirrors. Meanwhile, iris recognition enables hierarchical management of driving permissions and provides millisecond-level security verification for scenarios such as in-vehicle payments and application authorization, ensuring vehicle security without the need for physical keys.
Iris recognition technology is also applied in areas such as smartphones, payment devices, and medical equipment. With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) era, the security demands of intelligent devices continue to rise, making high-security iris recognition a key focus of technology development for manufacturers.
About Homsh
As a technology leader deeply engaged in the iris recognition field, Homsh (Wuhan Homsh Technology Co., Ltd.) will continue to take technological innovation as its core driving force, focusing on the iris recognition and biometric identification track to create safer, more convenient, and reliable recognition solutions for users. In the future, the company will further increase R&D investment, explore in-depth synergy between iris recognition and cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and cloud computing, promote the penetration of biometric technology into more scenarios, and inject greater momentum into the security construction of the digital society.
