B-Secur partners with Analog Devices to bring ECG biometrics to automotive market

Belfast-based biometrics company B-Secur and Analog Devices (ADI) have announced the joint development of an authentication solution to control automobile access, system personalization, and payments.

The solution will combine ADI’s signal conditioning technology and B-Secur’s electrocardiogram (ECG) biometrics, allowing automobiles to authenticate and identify both drivers and passengers. The technology can monitor driver vital signs to detect readiness and wellness, and could also be used to detect intoxication, as a company representative told TechCrunch following B-Secur’s £3.5 million (US$4.6 million) funding round a year ago.

“B-Secur’s ECG biometric technology can not only quickly and securely verify identity, but also turn the data into meaningful insights on driver/passenger wellness, including stress and drowsiness,” said Ben Carter, chief commercial officer, B-Secur. “We are delighted to collaborate with Analog Devices to help make the world a safer place with ECG biometrics, securing human and technology interaction at its heart.”

The companies suggest that in addition to vehicle access control, the solution can be used for immobilizer deactivation, infotainment personalization and online payments for ridesharing cars, and personalized insurance payments.

The market for biometric technology in the automotive industry is projected to grow by 12 percent CAGR from $476 million in 2017 to almost $1.13 billion in 2024, according to Allied Market Research’s recent report, “Automotive Biometric Market by Technology and Vehicle Type: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2024.”

B-Secur launched an ECG biometric authentication solution for IoT devices with NXP Semiconductors at Embedded World 2018 earlier this year.

Article Topics

access control  |  authentication  |  automotive biometrics  |  B-Secur  |  biometric payments  |  biometrics