Teknikimobil.com – Cars equipped with self-driving technology seem to be popular. Not by users but by researchers and companies operating in the technology sector. Not only Google’s Waymo , but there are several companies like Ola , TomTom , and Kodiak and many others. But they all use a sensor often called LiDar. Although some do not use this sensor, such as the one developed by FSD Tesla . Another one that emerged some time ago was the first use of thermal sensors for self-driving cars.
First Thermal Sensor for Self-Driving Cars Produced
FLIR Systems thermal imaging sensors have been selected by tier one automotive supplier Veoneer. These sensors were then contracted for production for autonomous or self-driving vehicles for leading global car manufacturers. (Photo: Business Wire)
FLIR Systems, Inc. announced late last month that its Boson-based thermal sensing technology had been selected by Veoneer. Thermal sensors will be used for Level 4 autonomous driving and in collaboration with leading carmakers in 2021. For your information, Veoneer is a number one automotive supplier company.
Veoneer’s system will be the first to apply thermal sensing cameras to improve the safety of self-driving vehicles. In several tests, the thermal sensor outperformed other sensors. The tests included low visibility and high contrast conditions. Nighttime, twilight, shadows, or sunrise and even spotlights are all situations that can be overcome. Apart from that, even in foggy weather conditions and thick smoke, the sensor can work well.
The capabilities of thermal sensors in AVs also go beyond the above conditions. The advantage of being able to capture or detect people and other living creatures is also part of the advantages of this sensor.
The capabilities of this sensor not only beat remote sensing capabilities such as lights at night. Moreover, this sensor can detect the presence of heat or heat coming from anything. The advantage of “invisible” sensors is that they offer additional data to the AV sensor suite. Which of course can increase reliability and redundancy thereby facilitating better decision making.
The FLIR thermal sensing core is also part of Veoneer’s fourth generation thermal sensing system. And it is scheduled to be launched next year. With more than a decade of experience, FLIR has become Veoneer’s key partner to support driver early warning systems. This system is used in vehicles from General Motors, Volkswagen, Audi, Peugeot, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. This latest contract represents a new phase for FLIR and its thermal sensing technology. Of course for the benefit of autonomous vehicles, or self-driving.