Auto biometrics market projected for massive growth as industry players demo new technology

The global market for biometrics in automotive access applications, while still developing, will go through a massive growth period from 2019 to 2025, according to a new report from HTF MI. Several new products, applications and initiatives in the space have also been announced, indicating the point the market has reached in its development, and showing broad interest in the space among companies.

Hitachi, Nuance Communcations, Voxx International, HID Global, Synaptics, Methode Electronics and Voicebox Technologies are identified as market leaders by the “Global Biometric Vehicle Access System Market” study. Synaptics and Fujitsu have the largest market shares, according to the report.

The research also delves into market segments, such as passenger cars and electric vehicles, and different geographical markets, along with drivers and restraining factors.

Samsung launches Digital Cockpit 2020

The new Digital Cockpit unveiled by Samsung at CES 2020 utilizes 5G and biometric login with facial recognition or fingerprint verification through a smartphone for a personalized experience, according to a company announcement.

The design includes eight displays and eight cameras, as well as Samsung’s Bixby voice recognition service. The revamped “Bixby in the car” provides enhanced integration with the SmartThings IoT platform. Passengers can now connect multiple personal devices at once, wirelessly, and also listen to their own music through “multi-zone audio” with speakers embedded in each headrest.

Mercedes concept car

Mercedes-Benz has launched a concept vehicle inspired by the movie Avatar at CES 2020, with a multifunctional control unit performing heartbeat and breathing matching for driver recognition instead of a conventional steering wheel. The Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR also features a distinctive inside-out design, gesture recognition, organic battery technology, and 33 “bionic flaps” that the company says in the announcement can communicate with the driver and the outside world with naturally flowing movements. The vehicle can also move sideways by roughly 30 degrees, due to independently-operating front and rear axles.

Amazon joins market

Amazon has signaled its entry into the auto market with a booth of dedicated technology at CES 2020, GeekWire reports, which includes home-to-car integrations, in-car Alexa voice features, and AWS services for car-makers and dealers to use in the purchase process.

Announcements by the company related to automobiles include Fire TV streaming devices with cars, the launch of the $50 Echo Auto, which will be available in India on January 15, and in Europe in February. Alexa will enable gas payments at more than 11,500 Exxon and Mobile stations, AWS is working with BlackBerry on a cloud platform connected for connected vehicle software, and electric vehicle maker Rivian is integrating Alexa into its first two vehicles, the R1S and R1T. Rivian is also supplying 100,000 electric delivery vans to Amazon.

Amazon also showcased potential future car integrations, including the use of Rekognition facial biometrics for loading driver profiles.

Cerence shares new biometric applications

Cerence showed off the voice recognition, gaze detection, touch, and gesture recognition as part of its Cerence Drive platform at CES 2020. Voice recognition and head tracking can be used to open vehicle windows and doors, while voice recognition and gaze detection can provide information about the surrounding world, and the company also demonstrated intelligent voice traffic notifications, Cerence Emergency Vehicle Detection, and the new Car Life suite of solutions.

Smart Eye announces OEM deal

Eye tracking technology from Smart Eye for driver drowsiness and distraction detection, as well as facial identification and expression for emotion detection, were all on display at CES. The company announcement suggests cars will be able to identify people, pets, and everyday objects to enhance passenger experiences. The company shows off its integrated DMS and Interior Sensing technologies for the in-vehicle environment.

A second Chinese OEM customer has meanwhile selected Smart Eye’s Driver Monitoring Systems, for an order estimated at SEK 50 million (US$5.3 million), the company announced. The second-generation DMS technology will be delivered for 2021 car models.

“As a global supplier of DMS and in-car AI technology, we have worked hard to secure a foothold on the important Chinese market, the largest in the world. This second design win is a crucial step towards our goal. It was a hard-fought competitive process where in the end Smart Eye’s proven capabilities of safety level driver monitoring combined with solid quality and high level of functionality came out as decisive factors. The Chinese market is expected to grow at an increasing pace, as is the rest of the global market. In the end it’s all about keeping more and more drivers safe and the Smart Eye team in China has done a great job in ensuring just that,” says Martin Krantz, CEO at Smart Eye.

The partnership represents the 57th design win for the company from 10 OEMs, with a potential total value of SEK 1.5 billion ($160 million).

Students develop two-wheeler biometric security system

A pair of automotive engineering students from Chandigarh University have developed a biometric system for two-wheeled vehicles, in order to combat the rapid growth in vehicle theft in India, ANI News reports.

A biometric fingerprint sensor could be installed on the handle of the vehicle and connected directly to its ignition.

Khuswinder Pal Singh discovered biometric security technology being used for high-end cars in western countries after reading about the growing epidemic of stolen two-wheelers, and proposed his idea to Vikramjit Singh, who partnered with him to submit the idea to Chandigarh University Technology Business Incubator, which approved it and provided financial support for their research.

They developed a prototype for Rs 22,000 ($311), and have since managed to reduce the cost of the security kit to Rs 4,000 (roughly $57). The team has been allocated office space at the incubator, and provided with support like help arranging loans from government agencies.

Article Topics

access management  |  Amazon  |  automotive biometrics  |  biometrics  |  cars  |  Cerence  |  eye tracking  |  facial recognition  |  gesture recognition  |  heartbeat biometrics  |  market report  |  Samsung  |  voice recognition