Thermal vision augmented awareness
The new ways of driving and use a vehicle as expected in the scope of Smart Mobility asks for reliable and affordable versatile perception systems. Perception systems need to be accurate and reliable both for what happen in the cabin and out of the cabin. The driver and passenger monitoring needs to be improved as well as the environment surrounding monitoring, in all light and weather conditions. For both of these topics, the extension of current perception systems (mainly based on visible imaging, LIDAR and RADAR detection) to the thermal sensing is a must.  Thermal sensing, especially in the LWIR (= 6 to 14 µm) bandwidth, provides valuable additional information and has to be considered as a must for the next generation of L4 (‘’Eyes off’’) and L5 (‘’Mind off’’) autonomous driving.
In this context, the HELIAUS project aims to deliver breakthrough perception systems for in-cabin passengers monitoring, as well as for the car surrounding by developing smart thermal perception systems that extend the current systems to the LWIR bandwidth.
From general point of view, the main objectives of the HELIAUS project and work to be carried out are as follows:
1/ to develop cutting-edge and cost effective technologies leading to low cost, high performance LWIR module,
2/ to specify, develop, test and validate the thermal perception systems first prototypes for in-cabin and out-of cabin application,
3/ to quantify the valuable addition of the thermal sensing into the current systems and future systems,
4/ to promote the benefit of such systems in the future autonomous vehicles, in particular, and for smart mobility in general.
The HELIAUS project is a first and essential step to the creation of a future industrialized affordable thermal perception systems offer. Being a part of the IPCEI Microelectronics, in which ULIS leads a project in the framework of the ‘’Smart Sensors’’, the HELIAUS project will positively contribute to the global competitiveness of the European industry.