Thermal Sense Ka Papa Pili Nānā Kalaiwa by Zeyuan Zhang and Xuechun Tao

Thermal Sense Ka Papa Pili Nānā Kalaiwa by Zeyuan Zhang and Xuechun Tao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Pilina, Launa a me ʻIke Mea Hoʻohana Competition Category.

KeleawePilina· 2025

Thermal Sense Ka Papa Pili Nānā Kalaiwa

by Zeyuan Zhang and Xuechun Tao

Client: Tick Design Labs (Shanghai)

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Pilina Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Thermal Sense Ka Papa Pili Nānā Kalaiwa

Kikokikona Puke: ʻO Thermal Sense kahi papa pili nānā kalaiwa no nā kaʻa. Hoʻololi ʻo Thermal Sense i ke kāmela maʻamau i loko o ke kaʻa me kahi mea ʻike wela haʻahaʻa kiʻi, kahi e hoʻopaʻa wale ai i nā ʻano wela, no laila ʻaʻohe kiʻi hiki ke ʻike ʻia i hana ʻia. Ke ana ʻia ka ʻāpana mea ʻike, he 40 a 30 a 20 mīlimika kona nui, a hoʻopaʻa ʻia ma ke aniani nānā hope no ka uhi ākea o ka lumi kaʻa. Nānā nā neural networks i nā helu pani maka a me nā neʻe poʻo e ʻike i ka hiamoe, ka hoʻohuli manaʻo, a me ka noho ʻana o kekahi keiki. Hāʻawi ʻia nā pāleoleo palekana ma lalo o 100 mīlisekona, a mālama pono ʻia ka pilikino ma ka pae ʻikepili.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Thermal Sense Ka Papa Pili Nānā Kalaiwa i ka A' Design Award Keleawe, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kūʻokoʻa i ʻike ʻia ma o ka hana noʻeau, ka akamai a me ka makakoho. He mau hana mākaukau a hana noʻeau kupaianaha nā lanakila Keleawe e hōʻoia ana i ka ʻike nui, ka noʻonoʻo a me ka maʻalea o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Thermal Sense Ka Papa Pili Nānā Kalaiwa he mea i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia, he ʻoihana a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Keleawe e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana, a maikaʻi no kona nānā ʻana i nā kikoʻī. Hoʻokō maikaʻi ka hoʻolālā Thermal Sense Ka Papa Pili Nānā Kalaiwa i nā pono, hoʻopā i ka makemake, hoʻohiwahiwa i nā manaʻo a huki i ka makemake e ʻike.

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