In recent years, the automotive industry has seen a surge in technological innovation aimed at improving safety and comfort. One such innovation that has attracted attention is the "In-Cabin Monitoring System (ICMS)." ICMS is a system that monitors the in-vehicle environment and occupant status in real time, providing appropriate feedback and action as needed. This column will explain the technical elements, application examples, challenges, and future prospects of ICMS, particularly in vehicles.
What is the In-Cabin Monitoring System (ICMS)?
ICMS is a system for monitoring the status inside the vehicle (cabin) and is primarily used for the following purposes:
Improved safety
Monitors the condition of the driver and passengers to reduce the risk of accidents.
Improved comfort
Optimizes the in-car environment (temperature, humidity, air quality, etc.) to provide a comfortable space for passengers.
Increased efficiency
Utilize vehicle operation data to improve energy efficiency and driving efficiency.
Technology elements supporting ICMS
ICMS is built on a combination of several cutting-edge technologies, the main elements of which are listed below.
Sensor Technology
The basis of ICMS is a wide variety of sensors that detect conditions inside the vehicle.
camera sensor
It detects the faces and movements of the driver and passengers to prevent drowsy driving or distracted driving, and also checks whether there are passengers in the seats to prevent children or pets from being left behind.
Radar sensor (millimeter wave)
It detects passengers, objects, seat occupancy, and vital signs (breathing, heart rate, etc.).
INFRARED LIGHT PHOTOSENSORS
It can detect passenger movement even in dark environments, making it particularly effective for monitoring at night or in tunnels.
Temperature HUMIDITY SENSORS
It measures the temperature and humidity inside the vehicle and automatically adjusts the air conditioning and heater.
CO2 sensor
Monitors carbon dioxide levels to manage cabin air quality and alerts you when ventilation is required.
PRESSURE SENSORS
It detects the seat occupancy status of the driver and passengers.
AI (artificial intelligence)
AI plays a central role in analyzing data obtained from sensors and detecting anomalies.
Facial Recognition and Expression Analysis
It analyzes the driver's facial expressions and gaze to detect fatigue and distraction.
Behavioral pattern analysis
It learns driver and passenger behavior and detects abnormal behavior in real time.
Prediction Algorithm
Based on past data, we predict signs of accidents and health risks.
IoT (Internet of Things)
ICMS enables more advanced functions by linking with devices inside and outside the vehicle and the cloud.
Cloud integration
In-vehicle data is sent to the cloud and analyzed in real time.
In the event of an abnormality, a remote administrator or family member will be notified.
Smartphone connectivity
It connects to the driver's smartphone and allows them to check and control the status inside the car through an app.
Data Visualization
The collected data is visualized on the vehicle's display and via a smartphone app.
This allows the driver and passengers to intuitively understand what is happening inside the vehicle.
ICMS application examples in vehicles
Specific applications of ICMS to improve vehicle safety and comfort include:
Driver Monitoring
Preventing drowsy driving
It monitors the driver's blinking frequency and eye movements to detect distraction and fatigue.
Issue alerts as needed.
Alcohol detection
It uses breathing sensors and analyzes changes in facial color to detect possible drunk driving.
Health monitoring
It measures heart rate and breathing rate and automatically stops the vehicle if any abnormalities are detected.
Occupant monitoring
Check rear seat safety
To prevent children or pets from being left behind, the system detects whether there are any occupants and displays a warning before locking the vehicle.
Abnormal behavior detection
An alert will be issued if the occupant suddenly falls or makes any abnormal movements.
Optimizing the in-car environment
Air quality management
It monitors CO2 concentration, temperature and humidity, and automatically adjusts the air conditioning and ventilation system.
Improved comfort
Seat heating and air conditioning are automatically adjusted according to the passenger's preferences.
Collaboration with autonomous driving
In autonomous vehicles, ICMS monitors the driver's condition and prepares them to take over if necessary, while also managing the health and comfort of passengers in real time to ensure a safe and comfortable experience even on long journeys.
ICMS Challenges
Characteristics and limitations of each sensor
Each sensor technology has its strengths and limitations, and it tends to be difficult for a single sensor to handle all situations.
Camera sensor limitations
- Areas of expertise
It excels in facial recognition and motion detection, and can detect drowsy driving or distracted driving by analyzing passengers' facial expressions and gaze.
- limit
Accuracy is reduced in dark or backlit environments, detection through obstacles (blankets, seat covers) is difficult, and there are privacy concerns.
Radar sensor limitations
- Areas of expertise
It can detect minute vital signs such as breathing and heartbeat without contact, and works even in the dark or through obstacles.
- limit
There is a possibility of false detection of luggage or child seats, and the detection range may be limited due to the characteristics of the radar.
Limitations of Acoustic Sensors
- Areas of expertise
Detects abnormal sounds and noise levels, and monitors vehicle abnormalities and environmental sounds.
- limit
It is easily affected by noise outside the vehicle and the acoustic environment inside the vehicle, making it unsuitable for detecting vital signs.
Limitations of temperature HUMIDITY SENSORS
- Areas of expertise
Measures the temperature and humidity inside the car to maintain a comfortable environment.
- limit
It cannot directly detect the presence or movement of occupants and is susceptible to environmental factors (extreme temperature and humidity changes).
Dealing with complex in-car environments
The in-vehicle environment is extremely complex, with many different factors intertwined, including passenger movement, vital activity, temperature and humidity inside the vehicle, and the acoustic environment. Since it is difficult to accurately monitor all of these with a single sensor, it is necessary to integrate multiple sensors.
Risk of false positives and missed detections
A single sensor increases the risk of false positives or missed detections.
- False positives
There is a possibility that luggage may be mistaken for a passenger, or that an abnormality may be detected due to environmental factors.
- Undetected
It may not be possible to detect stationary infants or pets. By integrating multiple sensors, data can be mutually complemented, reducing false positives and missed detections.
Supports a wide range of applications
ICMS must be compatible with a wide range of applications, including preventing child abandonment, monitoring driver health, managing the in-car environment, and linking with autonomous vehicles. Achieving these functions with a single sensor is a difficult and challenging task.
Position and outlook for millimeter wave radar sensors in ICMS
Millimeter-wave radar is a core technology in In-Cabin Monitoring Systems (ICMS) that enables non-contact, highly accurate detection, and plays an important role in supporting vehicle safety and comfort.
Its features include highly accurate vital activity detection, contactless privacy protection, high environmental tolerance, low power consumption, and versatility, which have led to its use in a wide range of applications, including child abandonment prevention, passenger health monitoring, in-car environment management, and collaboration with autonomous vehicles.
Furthermore, when combined with other sensor technologies such as cameras, millimeter-wave radar provides high reliability and accuracy that cannot be achieved with a single sensor, minimizing false positives and negatives and enabling accurate understanding of the situation inside the vehicle in real time.
As technology advances, millimeter-wave radar is becoming smaller and less expensive, accelerating its adoption. Furthermore, integration with AI and advances in sensor technology are expected to further improve performance and cost-effectiveness. As a result, millimeter-wave radar in ICMS will not only improve vehicle safety and comfort, but will also expand its role as a key technological platform supporting the mobility society of the future through applications in smart cities and healthcare.
Summary
In-cabin monitoring systems (ICMS) are an innovative technology that will be essential in the future mobility society, improving in-vehicle safety, comfort, and efficiency. In particular, advances in advanced sensor technology such as radar sensors and their integration with AI are evolving ICMS into systems with higher accuracy and reliability.
The range of applications for ICMS continues to expand, from safety features such as preventing children from being left behind and driver health monitoring to optimizing the in-car environment and linking with self-driving vehicles. Furthermore, through linking with smart cities and healthcare fields, ICMS is expected to play a role as a technological platform that improves safety and convenience not only within vehicles but throughout society as a whole.
As regulations and standardization improve, the cost of sensor technology decreases, and ICMS becomes more widely used in a variety of vehicles, it is likely that ICMS will provide a safer and more comfortable travel experience for all.
ICMS is not just an in-vehicle monitoring system; it continues to expand its potential as a core component supporting the mobility society of the future.
Millimeter wave technology manufacturers we handle
NEXTY Electronics carries millimeter wave related products from the manufacturers listed below.
Together with these manufacturers, we will provide our customers with cutting-edge millimeter wave technology to meet a variety of needs.
If you have any questions about the manufacturer or product, please feel free Inquiry.
A leader in semiconductor solutions, providing high performance mmWave sensors.
We have developed small, low-power millimeter-wave sensors, and their application to IoT devices is progressing.
We utilize advanced analog technology to provide precision millimeter wave solutions.
It has highly accurate radar technology and is suitable for a wide range of applications, from industrial to consumer.
60GHz/79GHz
Utilizing 4D imaging technology, we are bringing innovation to the medical, smart home, and automotive markets.
Inquiry
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