Technology
Tesla is working on a system that could identify a child left behind in a hot car.
Tesla is working on a new motion-detection system that could identify a child left behind in a hot car. According to Reuters, the company is seeking permission from the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC) to sell equipment that will use unlicensed millimeter-wave radar sensors designed to work at a higher power level than is allowed under current regulations.
In its application, Tesla claimed that the product could be used to reduce the risk of pediatric vehicle heat stroke, protect vehicle occupants from injury by advanced airbag deployment and seatbelt reminders, and enhance theft prevention systems.
Tesla plans to use radar imagery to measure body size so that it can tell the difference between adults and children. It will help the car optimize the deployment of airbags in a collision – more efficiently than current in-situ weight-based sensor systems, explains the business.
Tesla cites statistics from the National Highway Safety Administration that showed that "more than 50" children died of heat stroke in a car in 2018 and 2019, often because they were ignored. The FCC is seeking public comment on Tesla 's request through 21 September.
It's not clear how and when these sensors will end up in Tesla 's vehicles. The company's representative did not respond to a request for comments.
Tesla is now using indoor and outdoor sensors on its vehicles for a range of safety measures. Dog Mode keeps the car at a safe temperature for owners who choose to leave their pets behind for a few minutes, and can use the jumbo monitor in the middle to give a message to the passersby that you'll be coming back early. Sentry Mode, on the other hand, effectively lets the car guard itself use its exterior cameras to track nearby movements and recognise possible threats.
In the past few years, other automakers have launched technical improvements to help reduce the number of children left behind in hot vehicles.
In 2018, Nissan installed sensors in its Pathfinder SUVs to detect when the rear door was opened before the ride. When the driver refuses to open the rear door again after the car is stopped, the horn will beep multiple times as a warning. Likewise, GM has introduced a feature called Rear Seat Reminder in a host of its models that sounds like a chime and shows a warning on the instrument panel to remind drivers to search behind them.
The inclusion of Tesla's in-car sensor is notable as the company has rejected calls to incorporate an integrated driver-monitoring system to support Autopilot's advanced driver assistance system.
Tesla engineers wanted to incorporate comprehensive driver tracking systems, but the company executives, including CEO Elon Musk, reportedly dismissed the idea that solutions might not work well enough, might be costly, and that drivers would be irritated by an excessively nagging program.
