UWB radar extended to automotive child presence detection
Ceva has extended its RivieraWaves ultra-wideband (UWB) IP to support UWB-Radar for Child Presence Detection (CPD) as specified by Euro-NCAP and similar specifications in other regions.
Child Presence Detection is a safety system designed to detect and alert if a child or pet is accidently left behind in the vehicle. In Europe, Euro NCAP is actively promoting CPD through its safety rating metrics.
In China, CNCAP is similarly promoting CPD and in the U.S. the Hot Cars Act has passed, and the NHTSA is reviewing CPD guidance. In-cabin radar based on UWB is proving to be an excellent technology solution for presence sensing, capable of detecting even micro movements down to breathing rate. Using UWB radar sensors rather than alternative camera-based sensors also addresses the privacy concerns of in-cabin sensing systems, as well as supports low-light operation.
By reusing the Secure Digital Key UWB anchor points which are increasingly common in automobiles, UWB-based CPD can be economically deployed across the range of automotive platforms from premium to budget.
The UWB Radar solution is an add-on software package to the CEVA RivieraWaves UWB PHY and MAC IP based on the IEEE 802.15.4 HRP standard which delivers secure, centimetre-level accuracy and robust location information through Time-of-Flight (ToF) ranging and Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) processing.
A flexible radio interface enables CEVA-RivieraWaves UWB to be deployed with customers’ own RF technology or with CEVA partners’ RF IP.
This delivers robust Breath Per Minute (bpm) detection for CPD with less than 1bpm resolution, exceeding the Euro NCAP requirements. The coherent demodulation architecture and ranging algorithms provides distance and angle measurements in the complex in-cabin environment, enabling gesture recognition and intruder alarm features.
The IP can be optimized for different environments, including a configurable number of antennas and is designed for coexistence with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) Digital Key.
UWB Radar can deliver additional features in the car, such as intruder alerts, gesture control and automatic airbag deactivation. Beyond the car, the same UWB Radar technology can be used in applications requiring general Human Presence Detection, benefiting from the natural anonymity of radar sensing over alternatives such as vision-based detection or cot infant monitoring, power-saving features for laptops and TVs, and general utility management in smart buildings.
Global technology intelligence firm ABI Research forecasts that shipments of UWB enabled chips, including UWB Radar, will grow at a CAGR of 30% from 2022 to 2027 to surpass 1.4 billion units annually by 2027.
“UWB Radar’s ability to enhance safety through presence sensing applications is generating a lot of interest in the automotive industry and beyond. Our RivieraWaves UWB Radar IP lowers the entry barriers for the development of UWB Radar solutions that are cost- and power-efficient, and address privacy concerns,” said Tal Shalev, Vice President and General Manager of the Wireless IoT BU at Ceva.
“With support for FiRa and CCC and now Radar, the CEVA RivieraWaves UWB IP is a powerful enabler for chip designers looking to accelerate their solutions for these lucrative markets.”
CEVA technical experts will be available to discuss its UWB Radar solution at embedded world 2023 (EW2023) March 14-16, in Nuremburg, Germany.
www.ceva-dsp.com/product/rivierawaves-uwb-platform/
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