Ore. Company Says Thermal Cameras Key to Safer AVs

May 8, 2018
One Oregon-based company has claimed that heat-seeking cameras should be incorporated into the current self-driving car setup to make the vehicles safer.

May 8, 2018—One Oregon-based company has claimed that heat-seeking cameras should be incorporated into the current self-driving car setup to make the vehicles safer.

According to futurecar.com, a company named Flir has proposed that heat-seeking cameras be incorporated into autonomous vehicles as part of a safety measure that overcomes some of the obstacles that standard Lidar technology can encounter.

The safety of autonomous vehicles has come into question recently, following crashes such as a near-fatal accident involving a self-driving Uber vehicle in Arizona. The Lidar technology used by Uber reportedly wasn’t able to spot a pedestrian in the dark in that incident.

Heat-seeking cameras can detect temperature differences as low as 0.1 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning they are, in theory, able to detect human bodies and distinguish between a wide range of objects. Lidar uses a laser-shooting sensor to detect objects, and that technology can malfunction if a view is obstructed by elements such as fog or direct sunlight. Conversely, heat-seeking cameras utilize infrared light to distinguish between objects, and such obstructions don’t tend to affect the functionality of thermal cameras.

Thus, the technology behind thermal cameras could be a game-changer in the self-driving realm, Flir suggested.

Sponsored Recommendations

Valvoline Partner Solutions

We arm you with products that build trust, tools that unlock productivity, and training that drives business performance, so you feel confident in where your...

Grow the business you know

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Solutions that drive results

Connect with Valvoline experts to increase operational efficiency and customer loyalty – from Valvoline-funded promotions to hands-on training, we’re here to...

Free Resources for Shops Like Yours

View insights, research and solutions curated specifically for shops like yours.