ZF Develops Three-Dimensional Interior Observation System

ZF is currently working on the development of a 3D camera interior observation system which can be used to underpin a wide range of safety, comfort and AD applications.

One major area where this observation system can be used is occupant position sensing. Currently, seat-mounted sensors are already in use to find out if airbag and seat belt pretensioners should be deployed and at what force. A 3D IOS camera can be used to supplement this information regarding the size and real-time position and posture of occupants, including anything that is out of place like reclined seats. This information can thus be used to customize occupant energy management in the event of a crash or prior to it. Just knowing if someone is in a seating position can be of use in determining if and with which adaptive occupant safety functions to deploy in that position. The camera can be used in tandem with existing seatbelt buckle sensors as it would provide visual verification as to whether the occupant is properly belted, and give guidance to do so with a reminder or other action if this is not the case.

Occupant sensing can be highly useful in a scenario where small children are inadvertently left behind in a car, especially if temperatures are very extreme. It is possible to calibrate the IOS system to determine the presence of a child and to activate emergency actions like automatically placing a call to the mobile phone of the owner of the vehicle, opening the electric windows and opening the moonroof to lower the interior temperatures, activating the horn and emergency flashers so that any passersby can assist or triggering a call to the emergency services so that the child can be rescued.

With vehicles today becoming more and more automated, it is now possible for intelligently networked interior sensors to find out if the driver has placed his hands on the steering wheel, he is actively controlling the vehicle, if his head is facing the road, if he is properly using the seatbelt, if his head is facing the road and he is monitoring the vehicle. The system can identify if the vehicle is an automated mode and can trigger alerts in the event of a potential emergency situation.

“The bottom line is that visual data from the interior of the vehicle can be highly valuable from many standpoints,” said Norbert Kagerer, senior vice president, engineering for the occupant safety systems business. “The development of our 3D interior observation system leads to enhanced safety, convenience and helps support the evolution toward automated vehicles.”
It is expected that the IOS system will be ready for production by late 2021.