Teledyne FLIR object detection and tracking software accelerates thermal camera integration for ADAS and autonomous vehicles

Teledyne FLIR, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated announced the release of Prism AI, a software framework that provides classification, object detection, and object tracking, enabling perception engineers to quickly start integrating thermal cameras for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle (AV) systems. 

Prism AI features

Built for automotive perception system developers, Prism includes features such as visible-and-thermal image fusion and advanced thermal image processing capabilities that provide superior pedestrian and animal detection in challenging lighting conditions.

This feature is especially effective at night, which is when more than 79 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred in 2020. 

Decrease costs 

Combining the Prism AI development tools, plugins, and dataset development offers integrators a route to quickly test"

“The Prism AI software model has performed successfully in third-party, NCAP automatic emergency braking (AEB) tests and will now help perception engineers create more effective systems,” said Michael Walters, vice president of product management, Teledyne FLIR.

“Combining the Prism AI development tools, plugins, and dataset development offers integrators a route to quickly test and decrease development cost for thermal-enabled ADAS or AV that will help save lives.” 

Data integration

Developers can use Prism AI as the primary perception software or as reference software during in-house development.

A suite of Prism AI tools provides simplified data integration with the recently released Teledyne FLIR Conservator™ data lifecycle management software as well as the industry’s largest thermal-and-visible training dataset. 

Production-required features

Compatible with Teledyne FLIR thermal cameras including Boson®, Tau® 2, and the FLIR ADK™, Prism AI also includes production-required features including authentication between the thermal camera and the electronic control unit, further simplifying development. 

By providing the basis for efficient perception model development, Prism AI can also help lower compute costs for commonly used desktop and embedded processors from NVIDIA, Ambarella, Qualcomm, and more.

New ecosystem

Paired with the Teledyne FLIR expert technical services team available for integration support

Paired with the Teledyne FLIR expert technical services team available for integration support, perception engineers from academia to OEMs have a complete ecosystem to build thermal-enabled ADAS and AV systems. 

In the United States, preliminary data from the first half of 2021 from the Governors Highway Safety Association estimated a 17 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities compared to 2021 and a 46 percent jump from 2011. 

Thermal-enhanced ADAS and AV systems

Thermal-enhanced ADAS and AV systems can play a crucial role in driving down the unacceptable number of pedestrian traffic fatalities and will aid automotive OEMs to meet upcoming regulatory testing procedures that include nighttime pedestrian front crash prevention.

The Teledyne FLIR Prism AI software is available for purchase globally from Teledyne FLIR. For an exclusive in-person first look at the Prism AI, please visit booth #1418 at CVPR, June 21-23, 2022, in New Orleans, Louisiana.