Thermal Sense Interface de surveillance du conducteur by Zeyuan Zhang and Xuechun Tao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award de Bronze in Design d'Interface Competition Category.
BronzeInterface· 2025
Thermal Sense Interface de surveillance du conducteur
by Zeyuan Zhang and Xuechun Tao
Client: Tick Design Labs (Shanghai)
A' Design Award de Bronze Winner in Interface Category
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- Verified Award Winner
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The Design
About Thermal Sense Interface de surveillance du conducteur
Thermal Sense est une interface de surveillance du conducteur destinée aux automobiles. Thermal Sense remplace la caméra embarquée habituelle par un capteur thermique basse résolution qui n'enregistre que les signatures de chaleur, de sorte qu'aucune image identifiable n'est créée. Le module de capteur mesure 40 x 30 x 20 millimètres et se fixe sur le rétroviseur intérieur afin de couvrir largement l'habitacle. Des réseaux neuronaux analysent la fréquence de fermeture des paupières et les mouvements de la tête pour détecter la somnolence, la distraction et la présence d'un enfant. Les alertes de sécurité sont émises en moins de 100 millisecondes et la confidentialité est protégée au niveau même des données.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award de Bronze
Thermal Sense Interface de surveillance du conducteur est lauréat de l'A' Design Award de Bronze, une reconnaissance hautement prestigieuse décernée à des designs remarquables qui se distinguent par leur créativité, leur ingéniosité et leur sagacité. Les lauréats Bronze sont des artefacts amplement habiles et d'une créativité frappante, qui authentifient la vaste expérience, l'imagination et l'ingéniosité de leurs concepteurs. Thermal Sense Interface de surveillance du conducteur est censé être un objet très estimé, admiré et chéri, remarquablement professionnel et innovant. Ce design lauréat de l'A' Design Award de Bronze intègre les meilleures pratiques de l'art, de la science, du design et de la technologie, et est excellent par son souci du détail. Thermal Sense Interface de surveillance du conducteur satisfait admirablement les besoins, touche les désirs, charme les sentiments et attire la curiosité.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- With the increasing requirement for in-car cameras to monitor drivers and support assisted driving systems, Thermal Sense offers a groundbreaking alternative. It replaces traditional cameras with low-resolution thermal sensors, capturing only heat signatures to eliminate privacy risks. This system ensures data-level privacy while detecting drowsiness, distractions, and child presence using advanced machine learning. By prioritizing safety and privacy, Thermal Sense sets a new benchmark.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The thermal sensor module measures 40mm x 30mm x 20mm and is mounted discreetly on the rearview mirror for optimal cabin coverage. It features a low-resolution array of 32x32 pixels with a thermal sensitivity of ± 0.1°C. The system operates in real-time with a latency of under 100ms, powered by a custom hardware platform integrating convolutional neural network architectures. The package is lightweight, energy-efficient, and optimized for seamless automotive integration.
- Tags
- thermal imaging, privacy monitoring, driver analysis, cabin safety, thermal sensors, non-invasive, AI
- Production Technology
- Thermal Sense integrates a thermal sensor at the rearview mirror for wide-angle cabin coverage. Sourced with customized original equipment manufacturer specifications, the sensor detects minute thermal variations, ensuring high sensitivity for monitoring physiological parameters. Advanced convolutional neural network process thermal data, analyzing key indicators like eye closure rates and head movements. A robust real-time pipeline enhances image quality, extracts features, and provides immediate safety alerts.
- Design Challenge
- Limited availability of high-quality, low-cost thermal sensors and real-time processing technology were overcome through iterative testing and collaboration with original equipment manufactures and artificial intelligence experts.
- Research
- Using an in-between method, we cross-compared the thermal sensor approach with traditional cameras for measuring driver behavior. Controlled experiments with 50 participants assessed drowsiness and distractions. Results showed no significant performance difference between the two methods. This demonstrates that the thermal approach is as effective as cameras while eliminating privacy concerns, making it a superior, privacy-conscious solution.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by advancements in thermal imaging and the need for privacy-focused solutions, Thermal Sense addresses mandatory driver monitoring requirements without compromising identity. Research shows the efficacy of thermal sensors in detecting behavior and ensuring safety. By eliminating human-identifiable color images, it prioritizes privacy while monitoring driver attention, passenger activity, and child presence.
- Project Duration
- The project commenced in January 2023 in Shanghai, China, and was completed in October 2024. Research, development, and testing phases were conducted in collaboration with leading automotive technology innovation labs.
- Operation Flow
- Thermal Sense operates seamlessly in the background, using a thermal sensor to monitor the cabin without capturing identifiable images. Installed on the rearview mirror, it detects heat patterns to identify driver drowsiness, distractions, or child presence. The system provides real-time alerts, ensuring safety without compromising privacy. Its unobtrusive design and precise detection deliver reliable results, creating a safer and more privacy-conscious driving experience.
- Patents
- Copyrights belong to Zeyuan Zhang, and Tick Design Labs (Shanghai)
- Team Members
- Lead Designer: Zeyuan Zhang
Lead Designer: Xuechun Tao
Lead Designer: Yangyi Tai - Image Credits
- All Image: Zeyuan Zhang
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