SEOUL: LG Innotek recently announced that the company had developed the world's best 'in-cabin radar module.'
The in-cabin radar module uses radio waves to detect the presence or movement of a living organism and can be used to prevent vehicle burglary or to prevent children from being left in the car alone.
With the goal to commercialise the product by 2024, the company has actively carried out product promotions targeting global car manufacturers and automobile parts suppliers in South Korea as well as the US, Europe, and Japan.
The product is made by mounting various components, including a radar chip, antenna, and communication chip on a printed circuit board.
The demand for in-cabin sensors, including in-cabin radar modules, is on the rise globally..
In South Korea, installation of safety device allowing to check if children have got out of the vehicle has become compulsory for all children transportation minibuses.
Europe plans to add a child presence detection test to its standards for new automobile sales starting 2023.
The US is pursuing mandatory installation of child presence detection function starting 2025 to prevent parents from leaving their child alone in the car. This trend is spreading to other countries around the world as well.
In-cabin radar have several advantages over types of in-cabin sensors.
A radar can penetrate obstacles such as clothes and blankets and detect the presence of a living organism. Since it uses radio waves, instead of images, to detect a person, it is free from privacy infringement issues.
Also, unlike pressure sensors and ultrasonic sensors, in-cabin radar modules have strengths in that they don't need multiple sensors to function and have high sensitivity.
In addition, in-cabin radar modules are useful for self-driving cars. They can play different roles, such as checking the fastening of seat belts and notifying passengers of get-off times, on behalf of the driver.
LG Innotek's in-cabin radar modules have increased the resolution (the ability to distinguish objects close to each other) by 40% compared to existing products, securing the world's highest level of precision. Also, the module's signal processing time has been reduced by 30%, enabling faster detection of objects.
Another advantage of this in-cabin radar module is that it can be installed anywhere inside a car.
The product also provides functions that are necessary for autonomous driving without a driver. Various functions can be implemented with the product, such as starting a car only when all passengers have worn seat belts and vibrating the seat to wake up a passenger when he/she fell asleep and does not get off at the destination.
The company said it will add more functions to the product in the future such as setting the in-cabin temperature and adjusting the music volume, using hand gestures.
