Taiwanese firm Otobrite has developed an anti-pinch vision-AI sensing system for bus doors to prevent passenger injuries.

Passenger injuries caused by bus doors continue to occur worldwide, with reported cases in America, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the UK. In some cases, incidents have resulted in legal action being taken against the bus company and the driver.

As such, Otobrite has introduced the SafeZone anti-pinch vision-AI sensing system for bus doors, which uses real-time image recognition to detect passengers in the door area and prevent accidental injuries.

The vision-AI technology can accurately detect passengers getting on and off the bus. It can also recognise people carrying umbrellas, large crowds and partially obscured individuals. When integrated with the bus door control system, the AI instantly detects the presence of people within the door’s closing zone, automatically halts the door from closing, and reopens it, effectively preventing injury. The technology is particularly important for protecting elderly passengers with slower mobility, helping reduce the risk of being pinched by the doors.

The system has been approved by public bus operators in Taiwan. It not only enhances passenger safety but also helps reduce operational risks associated with passenger injury incidents.

While conventional systems typically rely on pressure-sensitive sensors, infra-red or mm-wave radars, each of these has its limitations. Infra-red sensors can be affected by ambient lighting, and mm-wave radar performance may vary depending on the material properties of nearby objects. In contrast, vision-AI leverages deep learning algorithms to identify various human forms, even if partially obscured or carrying items such as backpacks.

Traditional buses have relied on anti-pinch systems using passive pressure-sensitive sensors that only respond after physically pinching an object. These systems typically place sensors in the upper or middle sections of the door, making it difficult to detect smaller passengers such as children. As a result, traditional anti-pinch technology has led to accidents in many countries, where passengers were caught and dragged by closing doors.

The vision-AI technology (www.otobrite.com/product/safezone-regional-safety-ai-sensing-system) provides a proactive safety option, detecting even partially obscured passengers or those carrying umbrellas. This enables a smarter, more comprehensive anti-pinch system that addresses long-standing boarding and exit safety concerns on public buses.

By defining precise safety zones and integrating a vision sensing module, the system can capture real-time images and leverage vision-AI recognition technology to identify passengers, workers and vulnerable road users. When the bus door opens, the system activates the anti-pinch zone, covering an area of 30 by 200cm.

In addition to bus door applications, the SafeZone regional safety AI sensing system can also be used for anti-pinch protection on garbage truck tail hoppers, bus luggage compartments and various construction vehicles.