September, 2022

Integrating a LiDAR unit behind IR-transparent glass in a B-pillar. A collaborative project between Sony Depthsensing Solutions and Wideye by AGC.

As the automotive market relentlessly evolves towards autonomous vehicles, safety is the number one concern for all passengers – hence the sensors installed all around the vehicle to deliver critical perception data. These sensors must be fully protected to ensure they remain effective and operational under all conditions, in all situations and regardless of the obstacles they have to detect – near or far, day or night. When integrating sensors into the vehicle, it is essential to aim for a reliable, high-performance solution that is also aesthetically pleasing. The market has started adopting the B-pillar (see Figure 1) as the preferred location for the camera and radar sensors, but not yet for LiDAR sensors. This is an ideal location for ADAS and telematics functionalities, such as parking space detection, lane detection, facial recognition required for access control and more. For ADAS applications, installing the sensor on the side of the vehicle delivers multiple benefits:

large FoV (field of view) thanks to its high and central location in the car;

better protection for the sensor, including excellent scratch resistance;

cost optimisation by merging ADAS and telematics applications;

aesthetic design, since the sensors are concealed behind tinted glass and seamlessly embedded in the B-pillar.

Wideye set up a collaboration with Sony Depthsensing Solutions. The two teams joined forces in the development of a prototype that combines a Sony Depthsensing Solutions’ sensor with Wideye glass, demonstrating that a LiDAR sensor can be integrated in the vehicle B-Pillar position.