Radio Wave-Based Imaging Can Increase Car Safety Without Compromising Privacy, Says Vayyar CEO

Imaging technology that is not based on cameras can help car makers monitor essential safety and operational information without compromising the privacy of passengers, said Raviv Melamed, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Israel-based 3D imaging sensor company Vayyar Imaging Ltd.

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Melamed spoke Tuesday at a mobility innovation event held jointly by Calcalist and events firm Connecting Leaders Club at the Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Yehud, a town in central Israel, Vayyar develops and markets 3D imaging sensors that use radio waves to “see” through most man-made surfaces and human tissue. The company is currently developing a chip that lets smart cars detect the number, age, body position, and vital signs of passengers. When it comes to airbags, it is essential to know the exact position of a person, whether it is a pregnant woman, or a baby, and whether someone happened to put their leg up on the dashboard, Melamed said.

Other devices using Vayyar’s technology include tools for non-invasive breast cancer diagnosis, manufacturing line defects detection, and smart home monitors capable of detecting accidents or other home emergencies.

Vayyar has raised $79 million to date from investors including Boston-headquartered venture capital firm Battery Ventures LP, Menlo Park, California-headquartered Bessemer Venture Partners, and Tel Aviv-based Claltech, the Israeli tech investment vehicle of New York-based holding company Access Industries, founded by industrialist Len Blavatnik.

The technology can also be used in commercial and public fleets to detect the number of passengers on a bus, the contents of cargo on a truck, and the state of materials within the car, such as whether there are contaminants in the oil, Melamed said.

Also on Tuesday, Vayyar announced collaborations with Paris-listed automotive product design company, Valeo SA and French auto part manufacturer Faurecia. Both companies will integrate Vayyar’s technology into their products.