3D and ultra-realistic dummy faces scared us, but also caught our attention at MWC 2023. They prove the effectiveness of facial recognition that we should find on the dashboards of our cars in the next few years. years.
An indecipherable expression, her eyes empty, she stares at us coldly. Frandroid crossed a very strange head in the corridors of MWC 2023. This one is as impressive as it is frightening with its ultra-pushed realism – the texture and the details are incredibly close to human skin. However, this is precisely what will allow us to understand how a “Face ID” system works on cars.
Recognize a person by their skin
We knew it before arriving at the Barcelona tech fair, Continental has partnered with a German company called Trinamix to design a facial recognition solution to be carried in cars.
So we went to the Trinamix stand to take a closer look at its technology, which goes a step further than the existing facial recognition systems. In addition to being able to authenticate a person through facial features, the firm’s algorithms also know how to recognize someone by their skin.
A way to further strengthen the reliability of facial recognition since it is supposed to never be fooled by a photo or even by a 3D model of your face, however realistic it may be. To put it another way, the designers of this technology show that it will not fall into even the most elaborate traps. Consequently, it must protect you flawlessly on a daily basis since who can do more can do less.
More secure facial recognition
It is precisely to demonstrate this optimized security that Trinamix exhibits such creepy heads on its stand. The faces faithfully reproduce those of the team members present on site. Thanks to these Halloween-worthy accessories, the representatives of the firm can make their demonstrations.
Before addressing the question of integration into a car, the demonstration in question begins on a smartphone. Trinamix has integrated a chip into the screen of a phone to be able to activate skin detection.
Via an application designed for this purpose, our interlocutor first shows us facial recognition without activating skin detection. He passes his dummy head in front of the device and it is tricked and validates access to the app, thinking it is dealing with a human.
Conversely, as soon as he activated the skin detection option, the smartphone displayed an error message when the mask was passed in front of the sensors. It was necessary that the spokesperson of Trinamix presents indeed his real head so that his identity is confirmed. No cheating: we ourselves were able to manipulate the smartphone and the installed application to make sure that it was not a simple set-up to impress the public.
In other words, the detection of human skin does make it possible to further strengthen facial recognition. Place now to the demonstration within the framework of a car.
Face ID in the car won’t let you sleep
For this part of the demonstration, Trinamix did not install an electric car on its small stand or a mock cockpit. The firm is content with a small dashboard screen to show the capabilities of its “Face ID” technology.
Here too, the firm integrates human skin recognition technology. A person breaking into the vehicle should therefore not be able to start the vehicle, because he will not be able to authenticate himself.
In addition, Trinamix’s facial recognition system also promises to monitor driver behavior. The aim is to alert the person behind the wheel as soon as the system detects signs of fatigue or inattention.
Thus, on the Trinamix dashboard, a square “Sleepy» comes to life in red on the screen when the person positioned opposite closes their eyelids for too long or blinks their eyes repeatedly. Same thing for the statement “Distractedif you start looking away without noticing what’s in front of you.
It doesn’t stop there. Other alerts are also on the program. For example, if a person brings their face too close to the screen, the latter warns that in the event of an accident the airbag will not be able to deploy correctly and could even injure the person. Similar reports also exist if facial recognition notices that you are smoking or on the phone while driving.
In this regard, remember that some manufacturers already offer this kind of solution that monitors driver behavior, sometimes even forcing them to look at the road when autonomous driving is activated.
Finally, Trinamix specifies that beyond warnings against drowsiness or security against break-ins, its facial recognition could also be used to pay motorway tolls or recharges at electric terminals without having to leave the car interior.
A few more years of patience
Beyond Continental, the German company is already working with other players in the automotive market. A spokesperson tells us that his sauce technology “Face IDwill be integrated into the concept car of a manufacturer whose name it remains.
It also does not give a precise date on the presentation of the said concept car. Our interlocutor especially suggests that we will not see this facial recognition solution in a marketed car for a few years.
Our journalist Omar Belkaab is in Barcelona to cover MWC 2023 in its entirety, but he is present there as part of a press trip organized by Honor.
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