A finger on security

From AutoExpress: The Car News Weekly

IF you’re a fan of the hi-tech gadgets in the James Bond movies, then this fingerprint device will be right up your street. It’s the latest way to prevent your car from being stolen.

Automotive Technology Research and Development (ATRD), based in Coventry, has introduced the new Biometric immobiliser in an attempt to stem the increasing number of cases of thieves taking car keys from homes. With this device, you don’t only need the keys to start up the engine; the immobiliser also asks to read the owner’s fingerprint before activating the ignition.

According to ATRD, the clever new set-up can be fitted to any car. The only addition to the cabin is a small dashboard-mounted touchpad – this will scan your fingerprint, and compares it with the biometric record stored in the immobiliser’s memory. Unless the two match it won’t fire the engine. The rest of the system is wired out of sight into the electrics.

ATRD’s technology can be programmed to register multiply fingerprints, which would suit a family car or a company vehicle with a number of users. Fitting takes half a day, The maker says the kit gives owners the reassurance that their car is safe even if a thief steals their keys.