Vehicles that can look out for the driver's welfare with infrared cameras and detect objects in the road up ahead with radar are all the more common with new advancements across the automotive sector. IDTechEx's portfolio of Robotics & Autonomy Research Reports and Subscriptions covers the latest autonomous features and the technologies behind their function.
Eyes-on with sensors
Sensor technologies are fundamental in enabling autonomy, as they provide eyes on the inside and outside of the car. Radar is used in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to enable key safety features such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control (ACC), and blind spot detection (BSD), lane change assist (LCA), and cross-traffic detection (CTA) which use either long-range or short-range radars. Multiple radars are used per vehicle for coverage of surrounding areas, with some vehicles also having what is called a radar cocoon, for full 360-degree coverage.
ACC and AEB are enabled by front radars which are used to detect objects out in front of the vehicle, with these radars prioritizing angular resolution and range. Side radars, on the other hand, are responsible for BSD, LCA, and CTA, as well as junction pedestrian automatic emergency braking, and are focused on allowing for a wide field of view. IDTechEx's report, "Automotive Radar Market 2025-2045: Robotaxis & Autonomous Cars", goes into more detail.
Radars themselves are comprised of multiple layers, typically consisting of the housing, radar circuit board, shielding, antenna array, and the radome, with radar technology having been established within the automotive industry for over two decades. As radar is an expensive technology and is not camera-based, some OEMs are now reportedly looking for alternative technologies, though this is always subject to change, especially as radar performance becomes more advanced.
Detecting drowsiness and occupant monitoring
In-cabin sensing is a phenomenon which can detect whether the driver is tired by monitoring eyelid and facial movements, or if children have been left inside the car once the vehicle has stopped. The driver monitoring system (DMS) and occupant monitoring system (OMS) serve different functions and use different sensing technologies to cover different areas of the vehicle, though have some crossovers.
The DMS uses capacitive touch sensors on the steering wheel for hands-on detection, with ECG sensors potentially being integrated to monitor heartrate and stress levels. The OMS predominantly uses radar tech for features such as gesture control, occupancy detection, vital sign monitoring, facial recognition, movement tracking, and more, while RGB-infrared cameras and Time of Flight cameras are used across both the DMS and OMS to serve many of the same functions. Infrared cameras in particular are used in the DMS for gaze and head motion tracking of the driver, to ensure they are not too tired to drive. Infrared cameras are also used for facial recognition and identification, for secure biometric features such as paying through the car. IDTechEx's reports, "In-Cabin Sensing 2025-2035: Technologies, Opportunities, and Markets" and "Infrared and Thermal Cameras for Autonomy and In-Cabin 2025-2035: Technologies, Opportunities, Forecasts", provide information on the latest developments across in-cabin sensing and infrared camera use within vehicles.
AI assistants
Autonomous driving software within vehicles encompasses an entire range of technologies including not only sensors, but a whole range of AI features which can bring about more of a personalized driving experience.
AI assistants are a software feature which have recently been implemented into vehicles to assist the driver with basic tasks while on the move. Sending emails or joining meetings handsfree while driving could make journeys to work feel productive, while the car could also order a coffee for collection at the next services upon detecting drowsiness in the driver. The combination of AI with traditional sensing technologies could create vehicles that interact with the driver based on contextualized data to make informed suggestions. IDTechEx's report, "Autonomous Driving Software and AI in Automotive 2026-2046: Technologies, Markets, Players", covers the different ways AI can be utilized within vehicles to enhance personalization and comfort.
For more information, visit IDTechEx's portfolios of Robotics & Autonomy and Sensors, Haptics & Displays Research Reports and Subscriptions for the latest autonomy and sensing developments across the automotive sector.
