Communications of the ACM
Sensor Sounds Alarm If Child or Pet Is Left Alone in Vehicle
A small, inexpensive sensor could save lives by triggering an alarm when a child or pet is left alone in a vehicle.
The new device, developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo, combines radar technology with artificial intelligence to detect unattended children or animals with 100-percent accuracy.
Small enough to fit in the palm of a hand at just three centimeters in diameter, the device is designed to be attached to a vehicle's rearview mirror or mounted on the ceiling.
It sends out radar signals that are reflected back by people, animals, and objects in the vehicle. Built-in AI then analyzes the reflected signals.
The technology is described in "Low-Cost Low-Power In-Vehicle Occupant Detection With mm-Wave FMCW Radar."
"It addresses a serious, world-wide problem," says George Shaker, an engineering professor at Waterloo. "This system is so affordable it could become standard equipment in all vehicles."
Development of the wireless, disk-shaped sensor was funded in part by a major automotive parts manufacturer that is aiming to bring it to market by the end of 2020.
Analysis by the device determines the number of occupants and their locations in a vehicle. That information could be used to set rates for ride-sharing services and toll roads, or to qualify vehicles for car-pool lanes.
Its primary purpose, however, is to detect when a child or pet has been accidentally or deliberately left behind, a scenario that can result in serious harm or death in extremely hot or cold weather.
In such cases, the system would prevent vehicle doors from locking and sound an alarm to alert the driver, passengers, and other people in the area that there is a problem.
"Unlike cameras, this device preserves privacy and it doesn't have any blind spots because radar can penetrate seats, for instance, to determine if there is an infant in a rear-facing car seat," says Shaker, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, and of mechanical and mechatronics engineering.
The low-power device, which runs on a vehicle's battery, distinguishes between living beings and inanimate objects by detecting subtle breathing movements.
Researchers are now exploring the use of that capability to monitor the vital signs of drivers for indications of fatigue, distraction, impairment, illness, or other issues.
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