#interior sensing #cabin monitoring #interior radar #interior monitoring #driver monitoring

Interior sensing solutions

How interior sensing increases safety, security, comfort, and convenience for all vehicle occupants

Microsleep, distraction, an unfastened seat belt – what happens inside the vehicle can have far-reaching consequences. The interior sensing solutions from Bosch increase safety for all vehicle occupants. Using innovative sensor systems for the vehicle interior, critical situations such as distraction and drowsiness are detected at an early stage and the driver is warned accordingly. Passive safety systems are further enhanced using information acquired from the vehicle interior. In addition to safety-relevant functions, the system also enables numerous comfort and convenience functions, such as user identification and video streaming. When it comes to automated driving, interior sensing is an important requirement for determining the driver's ability to take over control of the vehicle.

safety

due to early detection of critical situations

Complies with

legal regulations

and NCAP requirements

comfort

due to automatic personalization of the comfort, and safety settings

Enabler for

automated driving

due to detection of the driver's ability to take over control of the vehicle

Safety first

The interior sensing solutions detects whether the driver has become drowsy or distracted

According to international studies, roughly one in ten accidents is the result of the driver becoming distracted or drowsy. To comply with the EU General Safety Regulation (GSR), all new vehicles must have a driver drowsiness detection system from July 2024. The GSR also requires that all new vehicles have a driver distraction detection system from July 2026. Market requirements are driven by legal regulations, but also by consumer tests such as Euro NCAP.

Not only is the Bosch system able to identify hazards and warn the driver, but it can also perform targeted interventions. A camera registers if the driver's eyelids are becoming heavy or if the driver is distracted. In addition to drowsiness and distraction detection, NCAP also requires the detection of children left behind in the vehicle.

Sensing of the entire vehicle interior

More comfort and protection

The Bosch system monitors the driver and the entire vehicle interior. Data gathered using the occupant monitoring camera and the cabin sensing radar provides information about the sitting position of all vehicle occupants, for example. Passive safety systems, such as seat belt reminders and automatic airbag suppression, are further enhanced using information acquired from the vehicle interior. The cabin sensing radar detects extremely small movements in the vehicle and even recognizes a sleeping baby in a rear-facing infant carrier on the rear seat, or a child in the footwell.

The cabin sensing radar supplements the data captured by camera with valuable information such as movements and vital signs. Combining the sensor systems increases the robustness of the various functions related to this solution. In addition, this enables new functionalities relating to passive safety as well as health and well-being of the passengers.

The radar also monitors activities taking place in the vehicle's immediate surroundings. For example, it senses when someone approaches the vehicle and attempts to break in or when the vehicle is bumped in the parking lot, and can alert the driver to these events.

As well as increasing safety and security, the technology also increases the comfort and convenience offered by the vehicle. For example, by using the camera to identify the driver, the system can automatically position the seat correctly and set the preferred interior temperature. It also provides a range of innovative interaction options, such as gesture control for distraction-free operation of the infotainment system. Vehicle interior sensing will in future be an absolutely essential solution in automated vehicles for ascertaining whether the driver is able to take control of the vehicle in a particular situation.

Driver drowsiness detection based on the steering angle

The driver monitoring camera is directed specifically at the driver; other occupants are not captured.

The occupant monitoring camera monitors occupants in the rear seats in addition to the driver, and also detects objects

The cabin sensing radar detects even a sleeping baby in a rear-facing infant carrier or a child in the footwell and therefore meets the Euro NCAP requirement for child presence detection.

Driver drowsiness detection based on the steering angle

Using information supplied by the steering-angle sensor, the drowsiness detection algorithm analyzes the driver's steering behavior and detects any changes arising from long journey times and driver drowsiness. Even minor changes in steering behavior, which are hardly noticeable by the driver themselves, reveal typical signs of diminishing concentration. Based on the frequency of these steering corrections and other parameters, such as journey duration, turn signal activation, and time of day, the function calculates a fatigue index. If this index exceeds a specific value, the driver is warned – for example by a flashing cup of coffee in the display instrument – and prompted to take a break.

As the function consists only of a software solution and the steering-angle sensor, it can easily be integrated into existing vehicle platforms.

Driver monitoring camera

The camera uses criteria such as gaze direction, eye opening, and posture to detect whether the driver is distracted or drowsy. Using artificial intelligence, the system draws the correct conclusions from this information: it warns of inattentiveness, recommends breaks if it detects signs of drowsiness, or brings the vehicle to a stop safely in a critical situation – depending on the vehicle manufacturer's wishes and applicable legal regulations.

The driver monitoring camera can be installed in different locations in the cockpit, e.g., on the steering column, in the central display, or on the A-pillar.

Occupant monitoring camera

The occupant monitoring camera has a larger viewing angle and also captures occupants in the passenger and rear seats. In addition to people, the camera also detects objects such as a phone in the driver's hand or a handbag left on the rear seat, and issues corresponding warnings.

Besides these safety- and security-relevant applications, the occupant monitoring camera enables comfort and convenience features such as video streaming.

This camera can also be installed in various locations in the vehicle, e.g., in the rearview mirror, in the central display, or on the dashboard.

Cabin sensing radar

The cabin sensing radar senses the presence of living creatures in the vehicle based on extremely small movements and vital signs. The radar provides information about where the occupants are located in the vehicle. Combined with the camera-based data, it enables passive safety systems such as seat belt reminders and automatic airbag suppression.

The radar's sensing range extends beyond the vehicle interior. It also detects the vehicle's immediate surroundings and therefore opens up brand-new possibilities in terms of detecting break-ins and bumping in the parking lot.

It can be installed in various positions in the vehicle, e.g., in the overhead console or the roof lining.

Overall interior sensing solutions

The interior sensing solutions comprises various sensor types (cameras, radar) that enable different functions. The installation positions are just examples and can be flexibly adjusted to meet the respective customer requirements.

The functions can be incorporated into the vehicle in different ways: by integrating them into vehicle computers such as the information domain computer, by adding a dedicated electronic control unit for interior sensing, or by installing a standalone software solution.

SYSTEM BENEFITS FOR MANUFACTURERS

High flexibility: a broad and scalable product portfolio including flexible integration options (vehicle computer, electronic control unit, or software as a product)
Strong partner: many years of experience as a system integrator in the automotive sector and in interior monitoring
Focus on the customer: a good understanding of customer needs and the ability to adjust quickly and efficiently to new market requirements
Holistic range of solutions: including comprehensive internal algorithm development based on cutting-edge data technology and artificial intelligence
Enabler for automated driving: driver condition monitoring as an important requirement for detecting the driver's ability to take over control of the vehicle

SYSTEM BENEFITS FOR DRIVERS AND OCCUPANTS

Greater safety on the road and for vehicle occupants thanks to distraction and drowsiness warnings
Enhanced comfort and convenience for the driver and front passenger: identification of the people present enables automatic personalization of settings
Position detection and occupant classification facilitate the optimization of safety systems
Fascinating user experience thanks to intuitive interaction interfaces

BOSCH – YOUR PARTNER FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR MONITORING SOLUTIONS

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