Seeing Machines partners to improve in-cabin monitoring tech
Seeing Machines has announced a partnership with Airy3D to introduce a new 3D camera technology aimed at enhancing in-cabin monitoring systems for automobiles.
The technology firm, known for its work in AI-powered operator monitoring systems, has worked alongside Airy3D, a company based in Montreal, to develop and refine the DepthIQTM technology. This collaboration has spanned four years, with the purpose of adapting the technology to meet the specific needs of automotive in-cabin monitoring.
The newly launched camera merges 3D range data with 5MP RGB colour and infrared 2D images, which align with the current requirements of in-cabin systems. Thus, it ensures compatibility with existing 2D in-cabin software while also providing precision eye-tracking across the full field of view of the cabin. This advancement represents the first instance where a single camera module, with one sensor and lens, can support both 5MP RGBIR 2D and 3D sensing.
Timothy Edwards, Co-Founder of Seeing Machines, highlighted the recognition of 3D sensing's potential to advance in-cabin monitoring systems, noting constraints due to high costs which have so far limited its adoption to more premium vehicles. He explained: "The potential of 3D sensing to improve in-cabin monitoring systems has been recognised for many years, but high costs have restricted adoption of 3D to just premium vehicles. However, due to planned improvements to safety standards which will protect occupants under a wider range of accident scenarios, 3D sensing is anticipated to become a de facto requirement for in-cabin monitoring systems. Seeing Machines has explored several cost-effective 3D sensing technologies in preparation for this transition. Airy3D's solution, utilising a diffractive optical element as a thin plastic coating on top of an existing 2D image sensor, offers a uniquely low-cost, low-friction pathway for automakers to achieve future safety regulations while capitalising on the many advantages of 3D vision."
Airy3D's Chief Executive Officer, Chris Barrett, commented on the collaboration in the context of penetrating the automotive market, saying: "In looking to penetrate the automotive market, we sought a partner with not only a great channel to market, but who was also well placed to understand the total set of requirements (not just at the sensor level) but the optical stack, computing and software feature level. Seeing Machines' long-term view and systems approach put them at the top of our list."
Paul McGlone, the CEO of Seeing Machines, expressed satisfaction with Airy3D's advancements and the exclusive offer of this technology to their automotive partners. He noted: "We are very pleased with the steady progress of Airy3D to adapt their unique technology to meet the rigorous requirements of in-cabin systems, and we are excited to be able to offer this technology exclusively to our automotive partners. The promise of cabin-monitoring is more intelligent and safer vehicles, but there is clearly a gap to bridge before vision-based cabin-monitoring systems are considered dependable enough to become fully integrated with passive safety technologies such as airbags and seatbelt restraints. Airy3D's depth sensing technology offers Seeing Machines a smooth transition to a future where vision-sensors are trusted to become the primary source of in-cabin information."
