Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have announced Vision Pulse, a driver safety system that uses ultra-wide band signals to detect obstacles around vehicles in real time. The technology measures signal travel time between UWB modules to calculate precise object positions and issue collision alerts.
Highlights
- Vision Pulse achieves 10-centimeter positioning accuracy within a 100-meter radius using UWB technology
- System maintains over 99 percent detection accuracy in adverse weather and nighttime conditions
- Communication speeds of 1–5 milliseconds enable real-time safety management
- Technology works with existing Digital Key 2 hardware in Hyundai and Kia vehicles
How Vision Pulse Works
Vision Pulse employs UWB modules installed in vehicles to emit signals. When nearby vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians carry UWB-equipped devices—including certain smartphones, wearables, and trackers—the system calculates their exact positions based on signal travel time.
Vehicles equipped with Hyundai and Kia’s Digital Key 2 already include the necessary UWB modules, requiring no additional hardware. The system can also be integrated into other vehicles through aftermarket UWB modules.
Technical Specifications
The UWB-based system offers several performance advantages:
- Detection range: 100-meter radius
- Positioning accuracy: 10 centimeters
- Detection rate: Over 99 percent in adverse conditions
- Communication latency: 1–5 milliseconds
- Frequency band: GHz bandwidth with minimal signal interference
The system’s GHz bandwidth operation provides exceptional diffraction and penetration capabilities, enabling detection even in complex urban intersections. Hyundai and Kia developed predictive algorithms capable of tracking multiple objects moving at high speeds around the vehicle.
Cost and Sensor Considerations
Vision Pulse reduces dependency on sensors such as LiDAR and radar by utilizing UWB modules already integrated into many vehicles. The technology operates via radio waves, offering cost efficiency compared to optical and radar-based systems while maintaining high accuracy.
Applications Beyond Vehicles
Hyundai and Kia have identified additional use cases for Vision Pulse:
- Industrial mobility: Collision prevention between forklifts and workers in warehouse environments
- Disaster response: Locating individuals buried under debris during emergencies
Pilot Programs
The automakers are testing Vision Pulse in live industrial settings:
- Kia PBV Conversion Center: Trials have been ongoing at Kia’s Conversion Center production line in Hwaseong, South Korea, since 2025 to prevent collisions between forklifts and workers
- Busan Port Authority: Following an agreement in October 2025, trials are validating collision-prevention capabilities between industrial mobility and workers at Busan’s terminal and hinterland
A campaign video demonstrates Vision Pulse deployed on school buses, featuring protective keyrings with embedded UWB modules designed for children.
Vision Pulse remains a pre-development technology, with potential application to mass-production vehicles under consideration.
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