Nanoplus Given Green Light for Automotive Alcohol Sensor

The Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety in the U.S. has authorized laser developer Nanoplus Nanosystems and Technologies GmbH to start the second phase of laser development for its touch-based alcohol sensor.

The project is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration program for a driver alcohol detection system. The technology aims to prevent alcohol-impaired drivers from moving their cars, and will be made available as a safety option in new vehicles. A touch-based system can measure alcohol content by shining a beam of IR light onto a driver’s fingertip when it is placed on the car’s ignition button or gear shift.

The sensor will be developed in collaboration with TK Holdings Inc. and TruTouch Technologies Inc.