Tesla is in the works of creating a motion-detecting sensor that will indicate when a child is left behind in a hot vehicle.
RELATED STORIES: Elon Musk Dares Authorities To Arrest Him After Reopening Tesla Plant In California
According to the Daily Mail, the company seeks to add the sensor that will sense movements within the vehicle by using radar technology. Tesla claims the depth perception technology will be able to “see-through” materials i.e. a blanket and is currently awaiting approval from the Federal Communications Commission so they could create the technology at a higher level.
“mmWave can differentiate between a child and an object left on the seat, reducing the likelihood of false alarms. In addition, mmWave is capable of detecting micromovements like breathing patterns and heart rates, neither of which can be captured by cameras or in-seat sensors alone.”
RELATED STORIES: Elon Musk To Sue California County Over COVID-19 Restrictions Amid Tesla Production
The waiver titled “Request For Waiver Of Section 15.255(c)(3)” also states the technology can be beneficial to improve safety in Tesla vehicles.
“In-cabin mmWave can provide other safety benefits, such as advanced airbag deployment and seat belt reminders. Radar imaging can assess body size to discriminate between adults and children and optimize airbag deployment in a crash – more effectively than existing weight based, in-seat sensor systems. In addition, the technology’s ability to detect breathing patterns and heart rates permits discrimination between people and inanimate objects to more accurately limit system responses – e.g., seatbelt reminders when people are detected, passenger airbag suppression when objects are detected.”
The company also noted there were over 50 children who died from vehicular heatstroke between 2018 and 2019 due to parents forgetting their child was in the car. The FCC will respond to Tesla’s request publically through Sept.21.