Thermal imaging development kit based on Boson thermal imaging movement FLIR for autonomous driving

Every year, over one million people lose their lives in traffic accidents, with 30 to 50 million more suffering injuries. This staggering number highlights the urgent need for safer transportation solutions, particularly in the development of autonomous vehicles. As technology advances, making these systems more reliable and efficient becomes a top priority.

Losing loved ones or friends in road accidents is not just emotionally devastating—it also leads to significant economic losses. With 90% to 95% of such incidents attributed to human error, the case for self-driving cars has never been stronger. Recent developments in thermal imaging technology are playing a key role in improving safety on the roads.

Technology

Autonomous vehicles rely on a range of sensors to perceive their surroundings. However, each has limitations, especially in challenging conditions like darkness, fog, or glare. Thermal imaging technology offers a powerful complement by detecting heat signatures, which can identify pedestrians, animals, and other vehicles far beyond the reach of standard headlights.

FLIR’s thermal imaging sensors are among the few that meet automotive standards and have been mass-produced. They are already used in vehicles from major brands like General Motors, Peugeot, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW. These sensors provide a crucial advantage in visibility, making them ideal for enhancing safety in both current ADAS systems and future autonomous vehicles.

Solution

FLIR recently launched a new high-resolution thermal imaging automotive development kit (ADK), designed for automotive manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers, and ADAS innovators. This kit integrates FLIR’s high-performance Boson thermal sensor with advanced processing units, enabling developers to add long-range thermal imaging capabilities to their autonomous systems efficiently and cost-effectively.

The ADK is compatible with NVIDIA DRIVE platforms and features the Intel Movidius Myriad 2 vision processor. It’s a compact, rugged solution that meets automotive requirements while supporting low-power, multi-core vision processing. This makes it an essential tool for building more reliable and redundant autonomous systems.

As the world moves toward fully autonomous vehicles, FLIR’s ADK is helping automakers integrate critical thermal imaging data into their systems. This advancement is paving the way for safer, more reliable self-driving solutions that can protect millions of people worldwide every day.