The Osceola County School District has unveiled a prototype of cutting-edge 4D radar technology for school buses, significantly improving student safety. During a press conference on Thursday, the district demonstrated the innovative system, which is designed to increase safety by electronically scanning for pedestrians around and under the bus when it is stopped. The technology aims to improve overall safety in and around school buses, ensuring students are protected at all times.
The newly introduced system installs radar sensors on the exterior of the bus, creating a 360-degree “detection zone.” These sensors detect movement while picking up or dropping off students and alert the bus driver with LED lights and sound alarms. Additionally, radar sensors are placed underneath the bus to detect invisible foreign objects, addressing the driver’s largest blind spot. The passenger compartment also has sensors that can detect passengers inside the vehicle or cabin by recording their individual heartbeats, eliminating the risk of missing a small sleeping child.
Representatives from SRS and the Osceola School District Transportation Department showed off the prototype bus at the Florida Pupil Transportation Association conference in Jacksonville from June 16 to 18. The conference provided an opportunity to demonstrate the new technology’s potentially life-saving capabilities.
