Your car key’s days may be numbered when Hyundai officially launches its new fingerprint technology in 2019.
The carmaker has developed a recognition system that allows drivers to both unlock and start their vehicles without a conventional key. This “world-first” technology will be initially featured in the Santa Fe SUV model in Q1 of 2019.
“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,” said Albert Biermann, President and Head of Research & Development Division of the Hyundai Motor Company. “This will ultimately offer quality driving experience to each and every Hyundai customer.”
With the new system, drivers need only place their finger on the door-handle sensor to unlock their vehicle. A fingerprint sensor is also located inside the vehicle on the ignition so they can start their car. This data is then used to help customize aspects of the vehicle’s interior to suit the driver — including things like automatically adjusting seating positions, side-view mirror angles and connected car features for the current driver.
Saving the fingerprint data can easily lead to safety and security concerns, but Hyundai says these issues have been addressed. The company is using capacitance recognition to detect “differentials in the electricity level in various parts of the fingertip” to ensure the “fingerprint technology efficiently prevents forgeries and fakes fingerprints.”
Its technology, Hyundai says, has a one in 50,000 chance of mis-recognizing another person’s fingerprint.
The carmaker has yet to confirm which markets the technology will expand to, although the U.K.’s Auto Express said it is due to be launched in China in 2019.
