Even greater safety and comfort through constant detection both
inside and outside the vehicle
Sony's "Safety Cocoon" concept addresses safety and security--
which will be critical for enabling the advancement of autonomous driving in the near future.
With sensing technology that surpasses human vision, the system provides a 360-degree view of the vehicle's surroundings,
while at the same time carefully monitoring the condition of the driver and other conditions inside the vehicle.
Furthermore, by feeding back the sensed information in real time to the driver,
it provides a sense of safety and comfortable mobility experience.
A total of 40 sensors, mainly Sony's in-vehicle CMOS image sensors, are installed inside and outside the vehicle to continuously monitor safety while driving. The system also helps to reduce passenger stress as well as aiding eco-friendly driving.
Sony's CMOS Image Sensor for Automotive
High sensitivity
Through high-sensitivity that recognizes the color and shape of objects in low-light environments such as at nighttime, it is possible to acquire high-quality data during nighttime driving on dark roads.
High Dynamic Range (HDR)
You can obtain information with less overexposure and underexposure even in scenes with large differences in brightness; for example, such as backlight and tunnel entrances/exits.
LFM (LED Flicker Mitigation)
Flicker that occurs when capturing traffic lights and signs using LED light sources is mitigated, thus enabling highly-accurate acquisition of information.
DRIVING ASSISTANCE
The network of sensors throughout the car enables 360-degree recognition of traffic conditions.
The sensors provide precise driving assistance, such as advanced cruise control, self-parking and auto-lane change functions, that corresponds to Level 2+ driver assistance. It not only enables safe, secure driving but also allows energy efficient driving and stress reduction. Software updates allow for continual performance upgrades, with the aim of ultimately achieving Level 4 or higher self-driving in the future.
The system constantly monitors its surroundings and provides the driver with easy-to-understand suggestions on when it is safe to change lanes. All the driver has to do is to turn on the indicator and the lane change is done automatically.
ADVANCED CAMERA MONITORING SYSTEM
Instead of a conventional physical mirror, the vehicle is equipped with a digital mirror, which combines a camera and display. The aim is to create a next-generation safety system that is easier to see than a physical mirror, using Sony-unique sensing technology and highly visible, high-brightness, high-resolution monitors, as well as HDR and other signal processing technologies.
LCDAS (Lane change decision aid systems)
This system uses sensors to monitor approaching cars and pedestrians, alerting the driver before they come into view. When changing lanes, in particular, a digital side mirror system responds to approaching vehicles from behind, warns the driver with a sound alert and flashing icon. 360 Reality Audio also provides an intuitive way to gauge the distance to the approaching vehicle.
In-Cabin Monitoring
Inside the cabin, ToF camera sensors monitor the condition of the vehicle occupants. Facial expressions and gestures are used to determine the driver's level of concentration and fatigue, and alerts are issued when necessary. In addition, the lip-reading system, which is currently undergoing research and development in conjunction along with the driver monitoring camera, reliably captures the driver's speech intentions even in noisy situations, reflecting them into the content display and navigation system operation. In addition to safety and comfort, the system also aims to adjust the temperature inside the vehicle by inferring the condition of the occupants based on behavior read from the ToF sensor.
