Hyundai Motor Company announced the world’s first smart fingerprint technology that allows drivers to not only unlock doors but also start the vehicle. Hyundai plans to implement the technology initially in Santa Fe SUV model. Its launch at select markets will be the first quarter of 2019.
To unlock the vehicle, the driver needs to place a finger on the sensor located on the door handle
The encrypted fingerprint information will be identified and delivered to the fingerprint controller inside the vehicle. The driver can also easily start the vehicle by touching the ignition that is also equipped with a fingerprint scanning sensor.
The technology also provides a customized driving environment. Matching information of driver preference with fingerprint data, the vehicle automatically adjusts seating positions, connected car features, and side-view mirror angles according to the driver.
“In the future, Hyundai Motor plans to further expand the application of the technology to allow the adjustment of temperature, steering wheel position, and many other features which will be tailored to driver’s preferences”, said Albert Biermann, President and Head of Research & Development Division of the Hyundai Motor Company. “This will ultimately offer quality driving experience to each and every Hyundai customer.”
Hyundai also addressed the security issues on the smart fingerprint technology
The fingerprint technology efficiently prevents forgeries and faked fingerprints. That is possible through capacitance recognition, which detects differentials in the electricity level in various parts of the fingertip. The technology’s chance of misrecognizing other person’s fingerprint as the driver’s is only 1 in 50,000. That makes it five times more effective than conventional vehicle keys, including smart keys. Moreover, the fingerprint system can continually improve its success rate. That is possible through real-time learning of fingerprints supported by ‘dynamic update’ system.
Hyundai will apply the fingerprint technology in select markets and gradually expand to the other markets. Hyundai Motor also plans to continue to implement other customizable technologies to vehicle lineup.
