Automakers get another perception option with Teledyne Flir’s Tura camera

Teledyne Flir OEM has introduced a new automotive-qualified thermal camera called Tura, developed to meet functional safety requirements for use in advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous vehicles. The company says the camera complies with Automotive Safety Integrity Level B under ISO 26262, a standard used across the auto industry to evaluate safety-critical system reliability. The camera is intended for applications including night vision systems, pedestrian detection, and integration into broader autonomous perception architectures. 

Tura uses a longwave infrared sensor capable of detecting thermal radiation rather than visible light. The module features a 640-by-512 resolution sensor and is described as highly sensitive to heat signatures from people, animals, and other objects that emit infrared energy. Because the technology does not rely on ambient light, it is designed to operate consistently in darkness and in conditions where glare, shadows, or headlight washout reduce the usefulness of conventional visible-light cameras. The company also notes that the sensor can continue operating through environmental interference such as fog or smoke.

Thermal imaging is increasingly being considered as a complementary perception tool rather than as a replacement for existing systems. Modern driver-assistance suites typically combine multiple sensors — including radar, conventional cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and sometimes lidar — to identify and classify road users. Each technology offers advantages in certain conditions while struggling in others. Thermal imaging occupies a role where it can detect living beings and heat sources when lighting or visibility degrade, offering perception data that other sensors may not capture on their own.

Teledyne Flir OEM reports that it has produced more than one million automotive thermal camera modules over the past two decades, primarily supporting driver alert and night-vision warning features. The introduction of Tura marks a move toward deeper integration into systems capable of directly influencing vehicle behavior, including braking responses. The addition of ASIL-B functional safety compliance positions thermal sensing as suitable for use in more critical decision-making layers.

The camera also ties into an existing collaboration between Teledyne Flir OEM and Valeo, one of the largest global suppliers of automotive technology. Through that partnership, the companies plan to incorporate ASIL-B-rated thermal imaging into Valeo’s driver-assistance platform. That platform combines signals from several different sensors into unified perception outputs. The companies say that thermal sensing is expected to support nighttime automatic emergency braking for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and autonomous systems.

A key motivation for the system is pedestrian safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has finalized Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 127, expanding performance requirements for automatic emergency braking with specific emphasis on nighttime capability. Many existing camera-dependent systems underperform in darkness, especially when pedestrians appear outside headlight beams. Thermal technology, which highlights heat signatures rather than visual contrast, is being positioned as one way to help address those gaps. However, compliance ultimately depends on full-system performance rather than any single technology.

According to Teledyne Flir OEM, Tura is already being used in some fully autonomous vehicle programs. In those cases, multiple thermal cameras can be mounted around a vehicle to provide 360-degree situational awareness. Autonomous systems rely heavily on redundancy, meaning they are designed so that if one sensing modality fails or becomes degraded, others continue providing usable data. Thermal perception may detect vulnerable road users in situations where visible-light cameras or radar encounter limitations, such as nighttime environments or cluttered urban settings.

Hardware design is another focus area. The Tura module is built in a sealed IP6K9K enclosure, enabling resistance to dust intrusion and high-pressure water spray. Integrated heating elements allow the camera to function in cold climates by reducing the likelihood of frost or ice accumulation. The design is also described as “shutterless,” eliminating periodic mechanical interruptions that some thermal cameras require for calibration. For continuous automotive operation, reducing interruptions is important for perception consistency and system uptime.

The camera uses AEC-Q-qualified components, reflecting automotive-specific reliability testing related to temperature extremes, vibration, humidity, and long-term durability. For vehicle manufacturers, these certifications signal that electronic components are built to withstand conditions not typically encountered in consumer electronics.

On the software side, Tura integrates with Teledyne Flir OEM’s Prism perception tools. These systems combine machine learning models and large annotated datasets to interpret infrared imagery and classify objects. Instead of delivering only raw video feeds, the system produces informational outputs that can feed into a vehicle’s centralized driver-assistance processing stack. Even with pre-built tools, manufacturers still must conduct their own validation work to ensure compatibility with vehicle platforms and regulatory expectations.

The company states that Tura is available now and is being demonstrated at CES in partnership with Valeo. Automotive technology suppliers frequently use CES to present technologies that may appear in vehicles several model cycles later, after engineering integration and certification work is complete. Public demonstrations at the show are often used to attract development partners and initiate conversations with automakers.

Teledyne Flir OEM positions itself as a major producer of ITAR-free and NDAA-compliant infrared modules. Those classifications are significant for defense and public-sector customers that must source technologies meeting certain procurement guidelines. The company emphasizes vertical integration and high production volumes, presenting those attributes as ways to reduce supply-chain risk. No pricing details or expected volume commitments are included, which is typical for early-stage component announcements in which commercial contracts may still be under discussion.

The introduction of Tura reflects growing interest in multi-sensor perception strategies as regulators and engineers push toward higher reliability in automated systems. Radar, lidar, and visible-light cameras each serve specific roles, and thermal imaging is being positioned as another layer, especially for nighttime safety and vulnerable road-user detection. Adoption will depend on integration cost, validation results, long-term reliability, and how automakers balance safety benefits against broader system complexity.

The announcement does not identify specific automakers planning to implement Tura in production vehicles, nor does it outline deployment timelines. That absence suggests the technology is at a stage focused on demonstrating readiness to the industry rather than tied to an imminent consumer product rollout. For suppliers operating in this space, multiyear development cycles and confidentiality agreements typically prevent early disclosure of customer programs.

In practical terms, Tura represents Teledyne Flir OEM’s effort to make thermal perception a fully qualified component suitable for use inside functional safety-governed automotive systems. If adopted widely, it could become part of the broader toolkit automakers use to meet evolving safety expectations, particularly in conditions where human vision and conventional cameras are limited. Whether it becomes standard equipment across market segments will depend on both regulatory pressure and measurable real-world performance outcomes.