Drivers to open cars with a selfie as new technology saves motorists hassle of finding keys
Details of the technology have been revealed in a recently published patent application
MOTORISTS could soon unlock the doors of their cars with a selfie.
Jaguar Land Rover has developed technology that uses facial recognition and gait analysis to identify drivers.
Cameras mounted under the windows capture video and photos of people as they approach and these are compared with images stored on its computer.
If they match, the car will unlock and open the doors.
The design could save drivers the hassle of having to carry and find their keys – and make it easier if they are laden with bags of shopping.
Details of the technology have been revealed in a recently published patent application.
The patent says: “The user of the vehicle must carry out a registration process which requires them to record a still image of their face and a moving image such as a hand gesture or their gait as they approach the vehicle.”
Using video footage and gait recognition ensures thieves cannot fool the system by holding up photographs of the owner that they have printed out.
The technology allows several people to register with the same car, so friends and family can unlock and drive it when necessary.
Jaguar Land Rover uses advanced cameras that create a 3D image, allowing the car to estimate how far a person is from the vehicle and better analyse their movement.
The patent hints that future Jaguars and Land Rovers may come without door handles, with different hand gestures signalling which door to open.