We often refer to fingerprint readers when discussing the features of a phone, but what if we told you that we could soon be doing the same when talking about a car ? Hyundai is precisely working on this, and has very near plans to bring the fingerprint sensor into the automotive world.
Open and start the car with your finger
Hyundai Motor has announced that it is finalizing the development of a system for automobiles that will allow users to unlock and start their car with their fingerprint. This might seem like a distant solution (although it's not the first time it's been attempted), but nothing could be further from the truth: the Asian company intends to implement this recognition system next year , beginning with its installation in the 2019 Santa Fe model, which will go on sale in the first quarter of next year in China.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is an all-wheel-drive SUV with seating for seven, featuring a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights, wireless charging, and an 8-inch touchscreen that provides access to all vehicle services. It offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, as well as 3D navigation.
It will now also feature a fingerprint reader system , which the user will have to register to configure the car's security system. One of these sensors (resistant to water, sunlight, and low temperatures) will be located in the door handle and will read the fingerprint to unlock the vehicle. The information read is sent encrypted to the system, and then the unlocking process begins. There will be another sensor in the car's ignition button to start the engine.
The recognition system isn't limited to these two functions, mind you. Once the driver is recognized (multiple profiles can be registered, of course), it will adjust the seat and mirror angles to suit that person, automatically personalizing an experience that will have been previously configured by the car's regular users. Other features such as temperature, humidity, and steering wheel settings can also be configured, according to Hyundai.
Hyundai ensures that its fingerprint technology is completely secure, being able to prevent counterfeit fingerprints. As for the reading error rate, it stands at 1/50.000, according to the manufacturer.
Would you trust your car's security system to a fingerprint reader?