ZF’s Sound.AI sensor is an omnidirectional microphone that listens for, locates and identifies emergency vehicles on the road.On display at ZF’s booth at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show are two new products in the company’s sensor portfolio that company officials believe could have immediate use cases for the trucking industry.
ZF’s new Interior Observation System (IOS) was designed to address the increasing needs at higher levels of autonomous operation where the driver has more freedom to move around the cab. IOS includes a driver-facing, wide-angle camera that creates a three-dimensional map of the cab interior that can collect real-time information on the size, position and posture of the driver and passengers.
IOS’s driver monitoring also can determine if the driver is correctly wearing the seatbelt, if his or her hands are on the steering wheel and if their head is facing the road. In an emergency situation, the system can adapt vehicle safety systems to lessen the impact of a collision.
ZF also is adding “ears” to it sensor capability with the introduction of Sound.AI, an omnidirectional microphone mounted outside the cab to analyze siren signals to determine what kind of emergency vehicle is approaching, and from which direction. The system display can also provide the driver with important information including instructions such as “pull over to the right” or “move to an emergency lane.”
“Our combined sensor power can help to address future requirements from one single supplier, said Torsten Gollewski, head of advanced engineering at ZF. “Whatever the weather or lighting conditions are, our environmental recognition systems are designed to work with the level of precision and redundancy required for safe highly automated and autonomous driving.”
