NOVELIC Smart Eye Partnership Targets Euro NCAP Needs

Combined Radar and Camera Monitoring Solution

NOVELIC Smart Eye partnership brings together mmWave radar and camera-based driver and occupant monitoring in a scalable system designed to help automakers address upcoming Euro NCAP requirements. The combined approach integrates NOVELIC’s radar technology with Smart Eye’s Driver Monitoring System and Interior Sensing AI, allowing software to run directly on the sensors. According to the provided information, the architecture uses a single CAN-Bus connection to the vehicle and removes the need for additional external hardware, LVDS interfaces, and extra computing resources.

Sensor and Software Integration

The solution combines the radar capabilities of NOVELIC with the driver and interior monitoring software from Smart Eye. Its architecture is intended to simplify vehicle integration by placing the software directly on the sensors rather than relying on additional external computing hardware. A single CAN-Bus connection provides the vehicle interface described in the announcement, while the system avoids the need for separate LVDS connections. This approach is positioned as a scalable option for automakers seeking to combine driver monitoring with broader occupant-sensing functions within different vehicle architectures.

ACAM 60 GHz In-Cabin Radar Capabilities

NOVELIC’s ACAM 60 GHz in-cabin radar technology adds several interior sensing capabilities to the combined system. It is designed to provide child presence detection even when factors such as car seats, blankets, or other obstructions are present. The radar module also supports seat occupancy detection and intrusion or proximity alerts. Its compact and power-efficient design is intended to make integration easier across different types of vehicles. These functions complement the camera-based monitoring capabilities by extending sensing coverage to conditions where radar can provide useful interior detection information.

Focus on Vehicle Safety Requirements

The partnership also connects the technical solution to upcoming vehicle safety and assessment requirements. By combining radar-based occupant sensing with Smart Eye’s Driver Monitoring System and Interior Sensing AI, the companies are presenting a unified approach rather than separate sensing functions that require additional hardware. The stated architecture can reduce the number of external components and interfaces needed for integration, while the radar module provides additional cabin-monitoring functions. For automakers, the focus is on creating a scalable sensor and software combination that can be incorporated into vehicle programs with different packaging and system requirements.

InCabin Europe 2026 Demonstration

The combined NOVELIC and Smart Eye system will be showcased at Smart Eye’s booth during InCabin Europe 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. The event demonstration will provide an opportunity to present the radar and camera-based architecture together and show how the companies intend the technologies to work as a combined driver and occupant monitoring solution. The showcase is particularly relevant to automakers and technology stakeholders evaluating cabin sensing, driver monitoring, and child presence detection as vehicle safety requirements evolve. The companies have not provided additional performance figures or production timing in the supplied article.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The partnership illustrates how radar and camera sensing can be combined within a more integrated vehicle monitoring architecture as automakers address evolving safety requirements. Its use of sensor-level software and a single CAN-Bus connection could simplify system integration, while the radar’s child presence, occupancy, and proximity functions broaden the monitoring capabilities available inside the vehicle. The focus on Euro NCAP requirements makes the approach particularly relevant to automakers and suppliers developing driver and occupant monitoring systems, with the InCabin Europe 2026 demonstration providing the next stated opportunity to evaluate the combined technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the NOVELIC and Smart Eye system combine?
The system combines NOVELIC’s 60 GHz in-cabin radar with Smart Eye’s Driver Monitoring System and Interior Sensing AI for integrated driver and occupant monitoring. The architecture runs software directly on the sensors and uses one CAN-Bus connection, avoiding additional external hardware, LVDS interfaces, and extra computing resources. The radar supports child presence detection, seat occupancy detection, and intrusion or proximity alerts. The combined solution is being presented as a scalable approach for automakers preparing for upcoming Euro NCAP requirements and will be showcased at InCabin Europe 2026 in Barcelona, Spain.