/// IMAGING SYSTEMS\\\


4D imaging radar improves car occupant safety


Radar technology is being used for child presence detection and seatbelt conformance to address latest NCAP standard challenges


V


ehicle safety systems specialist, Vayyar is addressing the latest safety challenges with an in-cabin, combined-


function sensor system. The single sensor is designed to prevent incidents that claim the lives of children left in hot vehicles every year as well as deaths and injuries caused by oc- cupants neglecting to wear seat-belts. By pro- viding the industry with multiple function on a single-chip platform, Vayyar is aiming for af- fordability, making the technology accessible for all vehicles. As part of the global effort to improve in-


car safety, Euro NCAP (National Car Assess- ment Programme) is introducing stricter scoring criteria across all protocols, starting in 2023. Child presence detection (CPD) will be worth up to four points, while the existing re- quirement for front and rear seat-belt re- minders (SBR) will become a precondition for achieving three additional occupant status (OS) points. The new sensor enables vehicles to earn these crucial seven extra points whilst minimising false alarms.


Sensor profusion \\\ Around 22 billion sensors are fitted in vehi-


cles every year, with IHS Markit predicting a 40 per cent increase in sensor-related costs from 2018 to 2030. On this trajectory, a main- stream car model will require around 200 sen- sors by 2030. Hardware, software, wiring, ECUs and integration efforts surrounding each sen- sor greatly increase complexity and costs, making high-end safety unattainable for value-oriented vehicles.


With the single multi-function sensor,


Vayyar believes it is helping the industry to overcome this sensor profusion challenge. Powered by a single radar-on-chip (RoC)


system, the sensor features CPD and en- hanced SBR, addressing multiple Euro NCAP 2023 requirements. It can replace numerous existing in-car sensors, covering a full vehicle cabin and detecting and classifying all occu- pants for exceptionally precise CPD. It oper- ates effectively in all lighting conditions


8 /// DAQ, Sensors & Instrumentation \\\ 2021


without requiring line-of-sight and can even detect a baby in a car seat sleeping under a blanket or a child in a footwell. Unlike cam- eras, the sensor also maintains user privacy at all times, an area of growing concern across the auto industry. The multifunctionality is made possible


by the platform’s large antenna array and ultra-wide field of view. The sensor’s 48 transceivers offer high-resolution for rich de- tection and classification data about occu- pants. Thanks to its field of view, the sensor, which is also simple to fit behind a vehicle’s headlining, can be installed in various loca- tions, accommodating both five- and seven- seaters, as well as sunroof-equipped models. Vayyar’s sensor delivers an entirely new level of safety, with the ability to differentiate be- tween people and objects, and children and adults, as well as determine whether a pas- senger is in or out of position. Beyond its CPD and SBR combination, the


end-to-end software-hardware platform also enables manufacturers to seamlessly develop multiple advanced applications indepen- dently. These include OS, optimised airbag de- ployment and dynamic disabling, seat-belt


pre-tensioning, eCall, vital signs, gesture recognition, out-of-position detection, in- truder detection and more. Unlike traditional radar systems that are based around two to three transmitting an- tennas and three to four receiving antennas, 4D imaging radar uses a multiple input-multi- ple output 48-antenna array for high-resolu- tion mapping of its surroundings. The rich point cloud data output combined with an ultra-wide azimuth-elevation field of view, de- livers detection and tracking with pinpoint ac- curacy. The fully validated, automotive-grade (AEC- Q100 qualified and ASIL-B compliant) sensor also grants car manufacturers the flexibility to scale to future features developed to meet evolving standards. These can be introduced early in the development cycle or at a later date via over-the-air (OTA) updates, ensuring future-proof deployments. DS&I


48-antenna MIMO 4D imaging radar sensor provides multiple function capabilities for in-vehicle sensing, left; the sensor can be placed in various positions within the vehicle based on configuration and function to


provide optimum performance, inset


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