Millimeter wave radar detection module high-precision safety in-car radar sensing technology, automobile manufacturers have made great progress in the deployment of millimeter wave radar detection module technology for use outside the car, radar sensor technology also enables them to develop more effective safety features, especially passenger detection technology in the car. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) use millimeter-wave radar detection module sensing technology to learn about the external environment, including other cars, pedestrians, cyclists and buildings. Inside the car, the same technology now allows for greater accuracy and reliability, including child awareness, seat belt alerts and airbags. The accuracy of sensors in the cockpit is particularly important for passenger detection. Automotive radar sensors provide an effective solution that is easy to deploy and affordable.
Radar can see targets that the human eye can't, and many cockpit-sensing apps are designed to keep passengers safe, but given the tragic consequences a child left alone in a car can have, automakers and consumers are paying special attention to the issue of child perception.
To address these issues, the European New Car Assessment Programme Roadmap adds child-aware solutions as a key feature, implemented by some car manufacturers as early as 2020. The solution goes beyond just testing whether there are children in the car. It aims to develop a system to test children who may be out of the driver's line of sight (such as rearward car seats) and to distinguish targets of similar size. Now, modern vehicles may already have cameras or weight sensors in the seats to test if there are passengers inside, but the technology is limited.
For example, if the camera is at the wrong Angle, it may not recognize a child behind a car seat or on a blanket. Too much or not enough available light can affect the camera's performance. Cameras also raise security and privacy issues that motion-sensing sensors don't.
In addition to the shortcomings of the effectiveness of traditional cockpit sensing technology, there are aesthetic and design considerations: cameras are often placed in more visible locations, making it easier for passengers to notice their presence.
In addition, the above solution takes up a lot of space. The size and layout of the vehicle affects the deployment of the camera, which also determines the effective coverage of the camera's field of view. If you are considering using a large vehicle such as a school bus, even if you have a camera installed, there may be many blind spots, resulting in the driver may forget the sleeping child at the terminal.
Millimeter wave technology's millimeter wave radar detection modules can provide the high precision needed for effective child perception in a variety of carriages, because unlike cameras, these sensors are not physically blocked. Radar sensors can penetrate plastic, drywall and clothing, even when a child is hiding behind a bus or covered in a blanket. While cameras can indeed effectively monitor the cockpit in some scenarios, radar sensors can provide both accuracy and flexibility as they gather the exact number of people in the car.
Enhancing multiple cockpit applications by using millimeter-wave radar detection modules to compensate for, or even replace, the weight sensor, the cockpit sensor system can detect human movement and identify human and inanimate targets to help build a more accurate seat belt reminder and airbag extension system.
When the target weight exceeds a certain threshold, the weight sensor triggers a harness alert. But the weight sensor can't tell the difference between a bag, box or purse similar in size and weight to the passenger, and the millimeter-wave radar detection module can easily tell the difference between the two. Airbag systems could benefit from more accurate sensing. Radar can be used to determine whether the seat is a child or an adult. If the airbag expands, the airbag can accommodate the person's height.
Detecting vital signs, government, local regulations, and consumer demand have fueled the need for child-sensing systems that can effectively detect children in the cockpit. Automakers responded aggressively to the demand and began installing low-cost but effective equipment in every car they produced. Radar sensors can not only meet the needs of today, but also have developed to the extent of effective detection of children. The millimeter wave radar detection module has excellent motion detection function and can detect breath, so as to distinguish between children and inanimate targets.
More advanced features of the millimeter-wave radar detection module include estimating the heart and breathing rates of the driver and passenger. When integrated into the overhead console or roof, the sensor's functional range covers all passengers, allowing the app to estimate a driver's fatigue or lethargy state and activate an alarm.
For applications requiring higher resolution, such as detecting passenger or driver posture, imaging radars equipped with millimeter-wave sensors can enable high resolution passenger detection. Millimeter wave radar detection module pin compatibility enables automakers to deploy both sensors according to regional regulations. It also allows designers to reuse hardware and software in sensor design.
These sensors are AEC-Q100 certified and help automotive designers meet the Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) B requirements for automotive induction systems. The sensors can also operate over a wide range of temperatures, including in the cockpit where temperatures can rise rapidly in hot weather.
Millimeter-wave radar detection modules are used for cockpit surveillance and provide single-chip solutions with integrated processing capabilities (digital signal processor) (DSP), microcontroller (MCU), radar hardware accelerators, and low-end to high-end storage ranges. The software development suite (mmWave-SDK) provides drivers and application programming interfaces for all single-chip sensors and imaging radars. Learn about reference designs and examples.
With seamless sensor solutions, many consumers prioritize sensors that can accurately monitor a child's cockpit, a demand that has received an overwhelming response from automotive Oems and Tier 1 suppliers. Any solution must be highly accurate and must have appearance factors that can be easily integrated into the vehicle in a hidden and non-invasive manner.
The millimeter-wave radar detection module not only changes the way vehicles perceive their surroundings, but also changes the way they perceive objects and passengers inside the vehicle. Now, a single radar sensor can detect and determine the location of all passengers in a car, classify those in the back seat as adults or children, and monitor the passengers' vital signs. Radar's ability to penetrate solid matter allows it to detect unattended children, monitor the status of passengers and estimate vital signs of drivers more accurately than ever before.
