Precise and highly reliable gesture recognition combined in the most compact design currently available on the market: Huf is bringing its kick sensor with 79 GHz radar technology to series production. A renowned European premium car manufacturer will equip future car generations with the gesture-controlled access solution based on new radar technology. Thanks to the new sensor, car users will benefit from increased comfort. For automotive manufacturers, it adds a whole new dimension to tomorrow's radar-based car access and authorization solutions.
“With our 79 GHz radar system, we are taking gesture-controlled car access to a whole new level,” explains Mirko Schindler, Director Product Group Sensors & Electronics at Huf. ”Thanks to its compact design, the system can be integrated almost anywhere in the car. Additionally, it recognizes gestures very precisely and reliably. An important key to this is the combination of hardware and software developed by Huf: Of course, the system recognizes the kick, as well as other gestures thanks to the new radar technology. What is even more important, it prevents unintended opening and can also be operated under difficult environmental conditions, such as heavy rain.”
Huf was the world’s first automotive supplier to equip a series-manufactured car with the kick sensor in 2011. Since then, the indicated kick introduced by Huf under the rear bumper has established itself as the global standard for contactless opening and closing of the trunk lid. Now, Huf is again in pole position and will be equipping various model ranges of a European premium manufacturer with the 79 GHz radar system.
The 79 GHz kick sensor made by Huf offers numerous advantages for car manufacturers and their customers, the car users. It is no longer necessary to carry out the smooth kick directly under the rear bumper. With the 79 GHz kick sensor from Huf, car users benefit from a noticeable comfort gain, especially in larger vehicles such as SUVs: Thanks to the free parameterizable detection range, the kick gesture can be performed from a greater distance to the bumper and thus more comfortably as users don’t have to move back to avoid getting hit by the opening or closing trunk lid.
79 GHz technology by Huf even enables car access via swipe gesture
In addition to the kick sensor, this 79 GHz radar gesture technology developed by Huf offers car manufacturers completely new possibilities when it comes to designing car access. The system can be integrated almost anywhere in the car as a plug-and-play solution. Opening and closing the side door with a swipe gesture is just as possible as operating the so-called frunk in electric cars with a hand or foot gesture.
By introducing the new 79 GHz radar kick sensor, Huf is adding another cutting-edge product to its portfolio. The leading specialist for secure car access and authorization systems provides tailored solutions designed to give car manufacturers the opportunity to create a genuine car entry experience as soon as the driver approaches the car. In addition to the capacitive and the new radar-based kick sensor, these include the CCC-compliant authorization system Phone as a Key with digital keys but also wearables like Smart Keys and Smart Cards.
Phone as a Key by Huf is a smart solution combining UWB ranging and UWB sensing to enable car access even without active user interaction. The car recognizes the digital key on the smartphone of the person approaching. The UWB based system grants access and even recognizes gestures and intentions to open doors and hatches on the car. It also “sees” when people carrying either physical or digital keys walk away and the car can be locked.
