We propose a novel algorithm to identify occupied seats, i.e., the number of occupants and their positions, using a frequency modulated continuous wave radar. Instead of using a high-resolution radar, which increases the cost and area, and performing complex signal processing with several variables to be tuned for each scenario, we integrate machine learning algorithms with a low-cost radar system. Based on heat maps obtained from the Capon beamformer, we train a machine classifier to predict the number of occupants and their positions in a vehicle. We follow two different classification methods: multiclass classification and binary classification. We compare three classifiers, support vector machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and Random Forest (RF), in terms of accuracy and computational complexity for both testing and training sets. Our proposed system using an SVM classifier achieved an overall accuracy of 97% in finding the defined scenarios in both multiclass classification and binary classification methods. In addition, to show the effectiveness of our proposed in-vehicle occupancy detection method, we provide the results of a common group tracking and people counting method of occupancy detection. Compared to the common method, the effectiveness, robustness, and accuracy of our proposed in-vehicle occupancy detection method are shown.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.