ADAS braking systems, night vision, and driver monitoring can all be enhanced using the infrared spectrum. IDTechEx’s latest report, “Infrared (IR) Cameras for Automotive 2025-2035: Technologies, Opportunities, Forecasts”, explores long-wave infrared (LWIR), short-wave infrared (SWIR), and near-infrared (NIR) sensors as means to increase the safety and protection of road users.
Long-wave infrared and autonomous possibilities
LWIR thermal cameras can gather information about the temperature of an object or person surrounding the car and have a longer detection range than other infrared alternatives. With a large proportion of road accidents happening outside of daylight conditions, these cameras can identify a person or animal based on their body temperature in combination with the image detected.
Over a million cars today use LWIR as an add-on within optional night driving systems. By 2027, IDTechEx predicts that these infrared cameras will be commonly installed as part of ADAS systems, providing night vision and abilities to either kickstart the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system or alert the driver. LWIR sensors will be required in all vehicles with L4 autonomy and above to constantly monitor the car’s surroundings.
IDTechEx reports that by 2029, a US government regulation will require that all manufacturers of vehicles install AEB systems, with cars needing to be tested in light, dark, and low visibility conditions and at a high speed of 62mph, proving their ability to detect vehicles and pedestrians out in front of the vehicle.
New windscreens made from a LWIR transparent material will be where these sensors are likely to be installed in the future, as their radiation can’t travel through regular windscreen glass. However, this is still in development and will likely enter the market in 2027. In lower temperatures, a heating ring may also be necessary to defrost the camera and ensure it can still do its job. Germanium can be used as a protective layer for LWIR sensors installed in the car’s front grille to protect it from rocks and gravel. However, this material is costly and may be tricky to acquire, so installing LWIR sensors in the windscreen is more ideal.
High-contrast SWIR sensors
SWIR sensors can provide higher resolution images than LWIR sensors and are especially effective in low visibility conditions such as fog, dust, and darkness. These sensors don’t contain temperature information but enable the car’s system to see high-contrast images, something that visible light cameras aren’t able to do. Although no cars currently use SWIR inside, by 2027, IDTechEx predicts they may enter the market and begin competing with LWIR.
The cost of manufacturing and installing SWIR sensors is a large barrier to their commercialization, as the indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) technology they require is expensive and is not feasible to install in vehicles. Other SWIR technologies, such as TriEye’s CMOS-based sensor, could be a cheaper alternative. However, LWIR sensors are much less expensive and have already existed in the automotive industry for 24 years, meaning there is much more knowledge about their function and installation. For SWIR sensors to be used in the same way, they would need to go through strict qualification processes, and lots of testing.
Near-infrared sensors for driver monitoring
Primarily used for in-cabin sensing, NIR sensors can detect passengers in the car, and track the driver’s state and attention. They can check for potential drowsiness by monitoring gaze, pupil dilation, and head position, and will alert the driver if something doesn’t seem right. These sensors are not affected by glare or changes in light, still working effectively at nighttime when the driver is likely to be tired. NIR can also see through sunglasses, providing great safety features as part of a vehicle’s ADAS systems in various conditions.
IDTechEx reports that infrared technologies will likely grow and develop much more in the 2030s, with ADAS systems being the main market for LWIR sensors, and all vehicles L4 and above require thermal cameras. While some vehicles could fulfil safety requirements with the use of other cameras and RADAR that already widely exist, infrared technologies provide a new approach to safety and nighttime vision, and IDTechEx’s latest report, www.IDTechEx.com/
