Continental has introduced its Face Authentication Display, a two-stage access control system relying on biometric user recognition. It uses camera systems mounted externally on the vehicle’s B-pillar and invisibly behind the driver display console.
Presented at CES 2024, the technology, developed in collaboration with BASF SE subsidiary TrinamiX, a biometric solutions provider, was designed to secure vehicle access and ignition by detecting registered users and foiling deception attempts through advanced liveness detection.
TrinamiX says that its facial recognition technology adheres to the highest biometric security standards, distinguishing real skin from other materials. This additional layer of security was implemented to prevent unauthorized access using replicas like masks or AI-generated images, enhancing the reliability of the system.
Wilfried Hermes, director of consumer electronics at TrinamiX, highlighted the technology’s superiority in providing top-notch security standards for exterior and interior applications. The partnership between Continental and TrinamiX aims to improve existing driver monitoring systems, fostering better interaction between the driver and the vehicle.
To integrate facial recognition into the vehicle without compromising interior aesthetics, Continental has strategically positioned the necessary camera technology behind the driver display console. This design not only preserves the vehicle’s interior design but also allows for a frameless screen surface, recognized with an Innovation Award at CES in 2023. The high-contrast OLED display, adapted for optimal functionality, facilitates biometric authentication and incorporates features such as attention and fatigue detection, enhancing convenience and safety, according to Continental.
By incorporating an additional display into the B-pillar, an external display allows users to interact with the vehicle, displaying information such as the charging progress of an electric car. The In2Visible technology makes the display invisible when not in use, thereby contributing to the vehicle’s exterior aesthetics.
Dr Boris Mergell, head of the user experience (UX) business area at Continental, explained, “Transferring our technologies from the interior to the exterior is a logical next step if this allows us to incorporate additional safety aspects and convenience functions.
“For us, user experience is defined not only by functional and technical aspects but also by aesthetic appeal. Sophisticated convenience and safety functions – which are not visually noticeable when in use – are a complete success for us in this respect.”
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