BMW Motorrad reveals world’s premier face, eye recognition system

BMW Motorrad announced that it has developed the world’s first face and eye recognition system, dubbed the BMW iFace.

According to the motorcycle arm of the automotive brand, the BMW iFace uses the latest 3D technology integrated into the ultra-modern BMW Motorrad thin-film transistor (TFT) display, which is not visible from the outside.

Facial scanning, the motorcycle company explained, is carried out by means of stripe projection — a technology that has been used for many years for example in reverse engineering.

The three-dimensional image collected is compared with the data record stored in the system. If the calibration registers positive, the ignition, steering lock, and other locking functions are released and the rider can start the motorcycle.

BMW Motorrad also pointed out that since this process works with infrared scanning, this type of face recognition is also possible even at night.

The BMW iFace also works even when the rider is wearing his or her helmet. With the use of iris-cornea scanning, a rider can unlock a BMW iFace-equipped motorbike even while wearing one’s helmet.

Pretty much like the aforementioned facial scanning, the iris-cornea matching technology compares the scanned subject to the data stored in the system. Likewise, this technology uses infrared scanning, which means that it too can work in the dark.

In addition, a special polarization filter enables the scanning process even through heavily tinted and even mirrored visors, different types of glasses, and contact lenses.

“Our special thanks go not only to the Bavarian State Office of Criminal Investigation, but especially to Giovanni Häberle. Today a respected owner of a consulting firm for theft and burglary protection in the Stuttgart-Stammheim area, the Swabian was an invaluable help to us in developing this system thanks to his decades of expertise as a professional vehicle thief,” commented BMW Motorrad Head of Theft Protection Dr. Burkhard Hund.

The BMW iFace will initially be used on the BMW Motorrad Boxer models.

Photos from BMW Group

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