Thermal Sense Ẹrọ Amọ̀nà fún Ìṣàkóso Awakọ̀ by Zeyuan Zhang and Xuechun Tao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ojú-ìbáṣepọ̀, Ìbáṣepọ̀ àti Ìrírí Olùlò Competition Category.
IdẹOjú-ìbáṣepọ̀· 2025
Thermal Sense Ẹrọ Amọ̀nà fún Ìṣàkóso Awakọ̀
by Zeyuan Zhang and Xuechun Tao
Client: Tick Design Labs (Shanghai)
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ojú-ìbáṣepọ̀ Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #165869The Design
About Thermal Sense Ẹrọ Amọ̀nà fún Ìṣàkóso Awakọ̀
Ọ̀rọ̀ Ìwé: Thermal Sense jẹ́ ẹrọ amọ̀nà fún ìbojúwo awakọ̀ nínú ọkọ̀ ayọ́kẹ́lẹ́. Thermal Sense rọ́pò kamẹ́rà tí a máa ń lò nínú ọkọ̀ pẹ̀lú sẹ́nsọ̀rì igbóná tí kò ní ìwọ̀n gíga, èyí tí ó ń ṣàkọsílẹ̀ àwọn àpẹẹrẹ igbóná nìkan, tí kò sì ní dá àwòrán tí a lè fi dá ẹnì kọ̀ọ̀kan mọ̀ sílẹ̀. Ẹ̀yà sẹ́nsọ̀rì náà ní ìwọ̀n mílímítà 40 sí 30 sí 20, a sì fi sí orí dígí ìwòyí lẹ́yìn ọkọ̀ láti lè bo gbogbo agbègbè inú ọkọ̀ dáadáa. Àwọn nẹ́tíwọ̀ọ̀kì aṣàrà ń ṣàyẹ̀wò iye ìgbà tí ojú ń pa àti bí orí ṣe ń gbé láti mọ̀ bóyá oorun ń kùn awakọ̀, bóyá àfiyèsí rẹ̀ ti yapa, tàbí bóyá ọmọdé kan wà nínú ọkọ̀. Ìkìlọ̀ ààbò ni a ó fi fún ní àkókò tí kò tó ọgọ́rùn-ún mílíìsẹ́kọ́ndù, ìpamọ́ àṣírí sì ni a rí dájú ní ìpele dátà.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award
Thermal Sense Ẹrọ Amọ̀nà fún Ìṣàkóso Awakọ̀ jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Thermal Sense Ẹrọ Amọ̀nà fún Ìṣàkóso Awakọ̀ yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Thermal Sense Ẹrọ Amọ̀nà fún Ìṣàkóso Awakọ̀ ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.
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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