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OEMs and regulations are pressuring manufacturers toward rapid adoption of in-cabin monitoring systems which opens a can of worms for your shop. One study estimates that 70-80% of new vehicles globally will be equipped with in-cabin monitoring by 2030.
Consider this article your guide to understand and identify in-cabin monitoring systems calibration needs, while including the importance to your shop and your bottom line.
What are in-cabin monitoring systems?
In-cabin monitoring systems are split into two categories: Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) and Occupant Monitoring Systems (OMS). These included seatbelt, occupant detection, and airbag sensors, but now include numerous other features.
Now, interior cameras, IR sensors, and even biometric scanners work to combat driver drowsiness and distracted driving by monitoring eye movement, head placement, and hand placement. Biometric data is also being used for facial recognition that can learn personal signs of fatigue. While some of these high-tech options are reserved for higher-class vehicles, they are not far on the horizon for more standardized implementation.
One newer feature you might encounter in vehicles is child presence detection that warns drivers to check the back seat before exiting a vehicle.
All of these sensors look to optimize vehicle performance and safety by contributing to the proper function of other ADAS features. For example, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), while highly automated, still requires the driver’s eyes and hands to be attentive or else will disengage.
In-cabin monitoring is a broad category of safety features that looks to increase safety and optimize ADAS function via combatting distracted driving, with large impacts on the calibration landscape.
What effect in-cabin monitoring has on the calibration landscape
The recent explosion of in-cabin monitoring evolution is drastically changing the aftermarket collision industry. With this explosion, ADAS checklists and workflows will need to pay a higher degree of attention to the interior of vehicles.
Simply put, sensor fusion is causing ADAS calibration to be a large and robust project with many triggers and new checkpoints. Many sensors (i.e. cameras, IR, radars) are now installedin rearview mirrors and/or other points in the cabin and some less obvious repairs or services may trigger the need for wider calibration.
Some less obvious triggers may include windshield repair/replacement, trim removal or repair, repair to seats, and airbag deployment. In addition, the actual calibration process likely calls for both static and dynamic calibration to the same sensor to ensure proper output.
For example, with vehicles equipped with ACC that relies on in-cabin sensor data, the necessary sensor (camera or IR) should be adjusted statically, then a test drive is needed to calibrate the correct field of vision for the sensor. Dynamic calibration is especially important for eye-tracking and biometric system calibration.
Of course with any calibration, post-repair verification and process-exhaustive documentation are vital for liability, safety, and insurance concerns..
Security concerns over biometric data
Another fold of liability concerns for your shop are related to systems that collect biometric data. As luxury and high-end models move towards facial recognition and voice, fingerprint scanning, and more, there are real concerns over privacy and security. Your shop could be held liable for a lack of network security in the event of a security breach while a vehicle is in your shop.
This may sound straight out of a science fiction novel, yet internet security in collision shops is increasingly important. These types of systems are likely to be more common in the years to come and your shop needs to be prepared in this scenario.
The risk of missed or incorrect calibrations
As with any missed calibration, you know that the consequences are dangerous, and in some cases, fatal. We are creatures of habit, therefore when drivers are accustomed to these in-cabin monitoring systems functioning as intended but when they fail to perform, accidents occur where injury may occur and liability questions arise.
All shops want to put safe vehicles back on the road and the best way to do that is by following OEMs as specified. To reduce any liability risk, air-tight documentation is your best friend to verify the necessary steps are taken, and that you have a record of following proper OEM-compliant procedures. Insurance payouts also rely heavily on your documentation and missing vital calibrations can delay or even void any claim.
You want to be in the driver’s seat and stave off liability concerns, OEM audits, and insurance delays. ADAS calibrations are existential and require more than relying on memory, manual practices, or outdated procedures to do properly.
Streamlining in-cabin calibration workflows without slowing service
Decreasing time per project and capturing more revenue are not just achievable goals but removes the panic that time pressure can impose. Actually doing so is all about the correct tools, strategies, and partners. To decrease time per project, look for VIN-based lookup tools that automatically identify installed in-cabin systems on any vehicle. Relying on outdated one-size-fits-all calibration checklists is time-consuming and is extremely likely to fail in identifying every ADAS system in every vehicle.
Documentation, as previously mentioned, is vital for both liability and insurance purposes. It can also be a time sink if done manually, and even fail to check all the marks. Partners and tools that provide auto-generated documentation speed up processes and stay current with OEM updates.
Crafting the right pricing models for ADAS work is also a necessary strategy to capture all revenue opportunities. Often shops are falling to bill for necessary work like research fees. Similarly, your shop might outsource some ADAS work because of the lack of space, time commitment and/or the initial cost of calibration equipment and training. Having a network of partners can avoid any scheduling issues
With these strategies in mind, your shop has many options to both decrease time per project and to increase revenue.
How Revv supports in-cabin monitoring calibration needs
Your biggest concerns with in-cabin monitoring systems are identifying necessary calibrations, following and documenting an OEM compliant procedure while calibrating them, and returning safe vehicles back to customers.
Revv helps you with each of these tasks as it has the power to:
- Identify any equipped ADAS systems and their calibration triggers
- Auto-generate OEM-compliant documentation
- Stay current with constantly shifting manufacturer-specific guidelines
In-cabin monitoring systems are likely to increase in number and complexity so your shop needs technology-enabled processes as a competitive advantage. Your success depends on precision, consistency, and automation.
The right tools allow shops to stay compliant, efficient, and profitable as in-cabin systems continue to evolve. Set up a call with one of our experts to see how Revv may be a good fit for your shop.
