Google has launched an open-source API standard called Ripple, which is a kind of tiny radar chip, and Ripple could possibly bring the tech to devices outside of Google. Previously tiny radar chips have been used by Google for its smartwatches, and it even featured in the Pixel smartphone. However, Ripple could perhaps be used in a car as well. Notably, the American automaker Ford is one of the participants in the new standard. Ripple is a project under the Consumer Technology Association, but the details about the project head are not known.
The Ripple project at Github is filled with references to Google along with several instances of Copyright 2021 Google LLC. Moreover, the contributors will have to sign a Google open source license agreement to participate. Another similar project from Google called Project Soli could find a rebranding. Moreover, radar technology might also come with its privacy benefits.
It is essentially a technology that can detect whether someone is present, nearby or if they are telling their devices to do something without requiring a microphone or camera. On the other hand, Ford mentioned that indoor radar might become a part of its driver-assistance technologies.
The company is also using advanced exterior radars as of now. Jim Buczkowski, the head of Ford’s Research and Advanced Engineering team, said, “We are researching how to use interior radar as a sensor source to enhance various customer experiences beyond our leading Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assist technologies that use advanced exterior radars today. A standard API, with semiconductor industry participation, will allow us to develop software independent of the hardware sourcing and give the software teams latitude to innovate across multiple radar platforms.”
Other companies are also researching radar, for example, Amazon is exploring if the radars can be used to monitor sleeping patterns.
