Hyundai announced world’s first smart fingerprint technology that allows drivers to unlock doors and start the vehicle. The Korean carmaker plans to implement the tech initially in Santa Fe that will be launched in select markets on the first quarter of 2019.
To unlock the vehicle, the driver needs to place a finger on the sensor located on the door handle, similar to the request button. 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 provides a customised driving environment that matches information of driver preference with fingerprint data. The car automatically adjusts seating positions, connected car features, and side-view mirror angles according to the driver.
Albert Biermann, President and Head of Research & Development Division of the Hyundai Motor Company said “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. This will ultimately offer quality driving experience to each and every Hyundai customer.”
The capacitance recognition detects differentials in the electricity level in various parts of the fingertip, the fingerprint technology prevents forgeries and faked fingerprints. The technology’s chance of misrecognising other person’s finger print as the driver’s is only 1 in 50,000 making it more effective than conventional vehicle keys. Real-time learning of fingerprints supported by ‘dynamic update’ system will improve its success rate.
Hyundai will apply the fingerprint technology in select markets and gradually expand to the other markets. They also plan to continue to implement other customisable technologies to vehicle lineup, to strengthen technological leadership in the future mobility market.