The Potential of Thermal Imaging in Automated Emergency Braking

Many pedestrians are killed as a result of vehicular collisions and 75% of those occur after sunset, when visibility is lower and danger is higher. Teledyne Flir, an American developer and manufacturer of technologies that enhance perception and awareness such as thermal imaging, wants to change that.

Automated Emergency braking (AEB) is one critical component of an Advanced Driver Assistance system (ADAS). Flir is currently working on incorporating thermal vision to the existing camera and radar suite in vehicles, which would improve AEB operation during the night, when driving into the sun, during inclement weather, or whenever driver vision is impeded.

Flir is placing the thermal camera right next to the existing sensor suite, allowing the various camera, radar, artificial intelligence, and machine learning technologies to work together. The idea is that the technologies will work in concert to distinguish pedestrians and other objects, measure distance and engage the AEB system as a result.

AEB systems, as well as the entire ADAS itself will increase in capability and complexity. As we move forward, electric and autonomous vehicles will carry and engage more and more sensors, cameras, radars and technology. While these allow for positional awareness, distance calculations and collision avoidance, they are only effective if they work unobstructed and free from impediments to data collection.

Podium Automotive has developed complimentary technologies for this exact purpose. Podium’s sensors detect obstructions and impediments to the sensor suite, thereby allowing the ADAS and AEB systems to work with full efficacy, saving lives and making driving safer for everyone.