Thermal Sense Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihuenyo Nlekọta Onye Ọkwọ Ụgbọala by Zeyuan Zhang and Xuechun Tao

Thermal Sense Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihuenyo Nlekọta Onye Ọkwọ Ụgbọala by Zeyuan Zhang and Xuechun Tao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz in Nhazi Ihu Ngwá Ọrụ, Mmekọrịta na Ahụmịhe Onye Ọrụ Competition Category.

BronzIhu Ngwá Ọrụ· 2025

Thermal Sense Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihuenyo Nlekọta Onye Ọkwọ Ụgbọala

by Zeyuan Zhang and Xuechun Tao

Client: Tick Design Labs (Shanghai)

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz Winner in Ihu Ngwá Ọrụ Category

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The Design

About Thermal Sense Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihuenyo Nlekọta Onye Ọkwọ Ụgbọala

Ederede Akwụkwọ: Thermal Sense bụ ihuenyo nlekọta onye ọkwọ ụgbọala maka ụgbọala. Thermal Sense na-eji igwefoto na-achọpụta okpomọkụ dị ala nọchie kamera a na-ahụkarị n'ime ụgbọala, nke na-edekọ naanị ụdị okpomọkụ, si otú a enweghị onyonyo a pụrụ ịmata onye ọ bụ. Akụkụ igwefoto ahụ dị milimita 40 site na 30 ruo 20, e kponyere ya n'elu enyo azụ ụgbọala iji nweta nlekọta zuru oke n'ime ụgbọala ahụ. Netwọkụ uche kpuru ọkụ na-enyocha ọsọ mmechi anya na mmegharị isi iji chọpụta ụra ọra, nlekọta na-adịghị ọma, na ọnụnọ nwatakịrị. A na-enye ọkwa nchekwa n'ime obere oge na-erughị milisekọnd 100, e wee chekwaa nzuzo n'ọkwa data.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz

Thermal Sense Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihuenyo Nlekọta Onye Ọkwọ Ụgbọala meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị pụtara ìhè nke a ma ama maka nzụlite ihe, ọgụgụ isi na nghọta. Ndị meriri na Bronz bụ ihe e mere nke ndị nwere nka nke ukwuu ma dị mma n'imepụta nke na-egosi ahụmahụ buru ibu, echiche na ọgụgụ isi nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Thermal Sense Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihuenyo Nlekọta Onye Ọkwọ Ụgbọala ga-abụ ihe a na-asọpụrụ nke ukwuu, a na-eto na a hụrụ n'anya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz na-agụnye ụzọ kacha mma n'ime nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ, ma dị mma nke ukwuu maka nlebara anya ya n'obere ihe. Thermal Sense Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihuenyo Nlekọta Onye Ọkwọ Ụgbọala na-emezu mkpa nke ọma, na-emetụ ọchịchọ aka, na-adọrọ mmetụta obi ma na-adọta ọchịchọ ịmara.

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