#China #Yantai #Raytron #ZEEKR #Automatic Emergency Braking

Raytron and Zeekr Launch the World's First Thermal AEB System

In a significant advancement for vehicle safety technology, Raytron, a global leader in infrared thermal imaging, has partnered with Zeekr, a subsidiary of Geely, to introduce the world's first thermal Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system. This groundbreaking innovation is set to debut as part of the G-Pilot H9 system integrated within the Zeekr 9X. With increasing global regulatory pressures seeking improved AEB standards, this collaboration represents a notable response to the challenges currently faced in automotive safety.

Understanding Traditional AEB vs. Thermal AEB

Most traditional Automatic Emergency Braking systems primarily rely on visible light cameras and radar technology to gauge the distance to obstacles and activate brakes. However, Raytron's thermal AEB system introduces a thermal infrared camera that significantly enhances the vehicle's ability to detect threats in adverse conditions.

Advantages of Thermal AEB

1. Night Visibility: Traditional headlights illuminate a mere 100 to 150 meters ahead, but Raytron's thermal cameras can identify obstacles at distances of up to 300 meters at night, granting drivers critical additional reaction time, especially on unlit roads.

2. Glare Resistance: Unlike human eyesight and traditional cameras, thermal imaging is immune to glare from oncoming headlights, eliminating the risk of momentary blindness for drivers.

3. Adverse Weather Performance: LiDAR systems are often compromised in thick fog or dust, but thermal imaging demonstrates excellent performance even in such conditions, ensuring reliable visibility regardless of weather.

4. Living Object Detection: The infrared cameras can detect thermal signatures unique to living beings. This allows the system to identify pedestrians clad in dark clothing, cyclists, and animals (such as deer or wild boars) that may unexpectedly cross roadways.

The Horus 640D: Pioneering Thermal AEB Technology

Raytron's innovative Horus 640D thermal camera module has been successfully integrated into the Zeekr 9X SUV. This system provides all-weather perception capabilities for the AEB, incorporating Raytron's exclusive uncooled infrared detector, next-generation Falcon series image processing chip, and cutting-edge image processing algorithms. This technological amalgamation offers substantial benefits in terms of reliability, cost, performance, form factor, and energy efficiency.

With compact dimensions (32.5×60.5×43 mm), the module can be flexibly mounted in restricted spaces within vehicles, such as in the grille, which is essential for mass production by automotive manufacturers. To date, Raytron's thermal automotive modules have powered over 20 vehicle models in partnership with 15 different automotive companies, spanning from passenger cars to commercial vehicles, and including those with assisted and fully autonomous driving capabilities.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Raytron and Zeekr not only highlights the evolution of automotive safety standards but also sets a benchmark for future developments in the industry. As the world moves towards smarter and safer roads, innovations like the thermal AEB system will play a crucial role in enhancing driver awareness and reducing accident rates. For more information, please visit Raytron's official site.