Thermal FIR Sensor Gives Autonomous Vehicles Constant Vision

A startup company combining the talents and skills of Israeli semiconductor and sensor market experts, AdaSky launches the autonomous vehicle market’s first Far Infrared (FIR) sensor solution. It combines an FIR thermal camera with unique computer vision algorithms that allow autonomous vehicles to see and understand (artificial intelligence) the road and surroundings under any conditions. Uniquely, it enables 24/7 vision, enabling many unique possibilities in autonomous driving applications.

 

Called the Viper, the FIR sensor package can be installed in any autonomous vehicle. Viper passively collects FIR signals through detection of thermal energy radiated from objects and the algorithms process signals collected by the camera, providing accurate object detection and scene analysis. Vehicles will have the ability to precisely detect pedestrians and objects at a few hundred meters, allowing more distance in which to react to driving decisions.

AdaSky's Viper FIR sensor enables 24/7 autonomous driving.

On the intelligence/learning side, Viper generates a new layer of information, originated from a different band of the electromagnetic spectrum. This significantly increases performance for classification, identification, and detection of objects, and of vehicle surroundings, both near and far.

 

To achieve 24/7 autonomous driving, vehicles must initially have accurate sight and perception in dynamic lighting conditions, direct sunlight, in the face of oncoming headlights, and in harsh weather. According to the company, that is not possible at this time. Autonomous vehicles now have cameras, radar, and LiDAR, but each has drawbacks. Sensors used in these topologies do not meet safety standards necessary for 24/7 autonomous driving. At some point, vehicles will need to pull over or hand over control to the driver in many cases. Viper is built to give the vehicle the additional layer of information and processing it needs to be fully-autonomous through improved perception, detection, and segmentation.

 

Classified by the Society for Automotive Engineers International, level 3, 4 or 5 autonomous vehicles are rated for partial to full automation. For OEMs to achieve the safety requirements that meet these levels, the industry needs a perception solution that constantly and accurately sees and understands in all driving and environmental conditions. For more details about Viper, contact AdaSky.