This blog post is derived from a joint press release by Airy3D and Seeing Machines. It is reprinted here with the permission of Airy3D.
A four-year partnership between Airy3D Inc., a Montreal based 3D technology company, and Seeing Machines, an advanced computer vision technology company that designs AI-powered operator monitoring systems to improve transport safety, has worked to refine Airy3D’s DepthIQ technology to meet the unique demands of automotive in-cabin monitoring. Seeing Machines has subsequently launched a new type of 3D camera technology designed specifically for this application.
The new camera delivers not only 3D range data, but also 5MP RGB color and infrared 2D images that have identical image characteristics to those required by today’s in-cabin systems. This means that the technology is fully compatible with the latest 2D in-cabin software and supports precision eye-tracking across the full cabin field-of-view. It also means that for the first time, 5MP RBGIR 2D and 3D sensing can be supported by a single camera module, with a single sensor and lens.
Timothy Edwards, Co-Founder of Seeing Machines, commented: “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 meet future safety regulations while capitalising on the many advantages of 3D vision.”
Chris Barrett, CEO of Airy3D, added: “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, CEO of Seeing Machines, concluded: “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.”
Learn more about the product implementation and its underlying technology foundations in a detailed technical white paper (PDF).
