CEVA has extended its RivieraWaves ultra-wideband (UWB)) radar platform to support Child Presence Detection (CPD). The platform is now able to provide sensing of object movements and breathing micro-movements, and complies with Euro-NCAP and similar specifications in other regions.

Child Presence Detection is a safety system designed to detect and alert if a child or pet is accidentally left behind in the vehicle. In Europe, Euro NCAP is actively promoting CPD through its safety rating metrics.

In China, CNCAP is similarly promoting CPD, and in the US the Hot Cars Act has passed, and the NHTSA is reviewing CPD guidance.

In-cabin radar based on UWB is capable of detecting micro movements down to breathing rate. Using UWB radar sensors rather than alternative camera-based sensors addresses the privacy concerns of in-cabin sensing systems, as well as supports low-light operation. By reusing the Secure Digital Key UWB anchor points which are increasingly common in cars, UWB-based CPD can be economically deployed across the automotive market.

The CEVA UWB Radar solution is an add-on software package to the CEVA RivieraWaves UWB PHY and MAC IP. The solution delivers Breath Per Minute (bpm) detection for CPD with less than 1bpm resolution, exceeding the Euro NCAP requirements. Employing a coherent demodulation architecture and ranging algorithms, the CEVA RivieraWaves UWB with Radar delivers distance and angle measurements in the complex in-cabin environment, enabling gesture recognition and intruder alarm features. The solution can be optimised for different environments, including a configurable number of antennas. Designed for coexistence with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) Digital Key, the solution permits reuse of Digital Key UWB anchor hardware.

Tal Shalev, Vice President and General Manager of the Wireless IoT Business Unit at CEVA, said: “UWB Radar’s ability to enhance safety through presence sensing applications is generating a lot of interest in the automotive industry and beyond. Our RivieraWaves UWB Radar IP lowers the entry barriers for the development of UWB Radar solutions that are cost- and power-efficient, and address privacy concerns. With support for FiRa and CCC and now Radar, the CEVA RivieraWaves UWB IP is a powerful enabler for chip designers looking to accelerate their solutions for these lucrative markets.”

Global technology intelligence firm ABI Research forecasts that shipments of UWB enabled chips, including UWB Radar, will grow at a CAGR of 30% from 2022 to 2027 to surpass 1.4 billion units annually by 2027. UWB Radar can also deliver additional features in the car, such as intruder alerts, gesture control and automatic airbag deactivation.