Hanwha Systems (CEO Kim Yeon-cheol) is embarking on the development of 'night vision (thermal imaging camera),' a key technology that will accelerate the era of autonomous driving.

Hanwha Systems announced on the 28th that it had been selected as the preferred bidder for the project of ‘Development of thermal imaging fusion 3D camera technology capable of responding day and night’ by participating in a consortium led by AMS, a leading automotive electronics company.

This project is one of the autonomous driving technology innovation projects and is the only domestic project to develop 'night vision,' an essential sensor for autonomous vehicles.

The selected consortium will develop a "thermal imaging fusion 3D camera" for vehicles by January 2025, combining daytime and thermal imaging cameras. The goal is to develop a high-performance fusion camera capable of accurately recognizing objects at distances of 250 meters or more, utilizing AI-based deep learning technology to recognize information about various obstacles in Level 4 autonomous driving environments.

In this project, Hanwha Systems plans to develop an XGA-level (1024x768 pixels) night vision by applying the intelligent thermal engine module 'Quantum Red' technology released last year. This is the highest image quality among domestic thermal imaging cameras.

In particular, QuantumRed uses a system-on-chip (SoC) certified to the world's first automotive component reliability standard, AEC-Q100, which is expected to enable the supply of night vision optimized for autonomous vehicles in the future. AEC-Q100 is a mandatory certification required to enter the challenging automotive electronics sector.

The core of autonomous driving technology is optimal decision-making and operation through accurate perception. Night vision utilizes long-range infrared sensors to detect and identify people and animals through video in driving conditions where visual recognition is difficult, such as at night or in fog. It can detect people and animals from a distance of more than 100 meters, the minimum distance required for emergency braking, helping prevent accidents.

The global automobile market is already seeing an increase in vehicles equipped with night vision, and the technology is evolving beyond simply securing forward visibility to intelligent night vision.

For 40 years, Hanwha Systems has developed and supplied electro-optical equipment for surveillance and reconnaissance, night vision systems for tanks and armored vehicles, and day/night sights and observation scopes. It holds over 90% of the domestic defense thermal imaging camera market share. Recently, the company successfully localized the Electro-Optical Target Tracking System (EOTGP) and Infrared Search and Track (IRST) for the KF-21 Boramae, the first domestically produced fighter jet, once again demonstrating its leading technological competitiveness. In addition, with the launch of Quantum Red last year, the company announced its full-scale entry into the night vision market through an OEM production agreement with automotive electronics specialist Truwin.

Kim Yeon-cheol, CEO of Hanwha Systems, said, “Based on our world-class technological prowess, which enabled us to develop the first thermal imaging camera in Korea, we will strive to fully develop the domestic night vision industry,” adding, “We will continue to secure growth opportunities by expanding our business areas beyond the commercialization of vehicle night vision to the aviation mobility field.”