The Osceola County School District has made a significant advancement in student safety by unveiling a prototype of state-of-the-art 4D radar technology for its school buses. During a press conference held on Thursday, the district demonstrated this innovative system, which is designed to enhance safety by electronically scanning for pedestrians around and under the bus when it is stopped. This technology aims to improve overall safety in and around school buses, ensuring that students are protected at all times.

The newly introduced system features radar sensors installed on the exterior of the bus, creating a 360-degree “detection zone.” These sensors detect movement during student pick-up and drop-off, alerting bus drivers via LED lights and sound alarms. Additionally, radar sensors are placed in the bus undercarriage to detect unseen foreign objects, addressing the driver’s ultimate blind spot. The passenger compartment also has sensors that can detect passengers on board or inside the cabin by registering individual heartbeats, eliminating the risk of overlooking a small sleeping child.

Representatives from SRS and the Osceola School District’s Transportation Department showcased the prototype bus at the Florida Association of Pupil Transportation conference in Jacksonville from June 16-18. This conference provided an opportunity to demonstrate the potential life-saving capabilities of the new technology.

Smart Radar Systems
Smart Radar Systems
Smart Radar Systems
Smart Radar Systems

Speaking at the school district press conference were Osceola School District Chair Heather Kahoun, Osceola County Commission Chair Cheryl Grieb, Paul Kim, CEO of SRS, Jae Kim, CTO of SRS, Scott Knoebel, Assistant Superintendent of School Operations for the Osceola School District, and Randy Wheeler, Director of Transportation with the Osceola School District.

Smart Radar System, Inc. (SRS) is a global leader in 4D radar for automotive and smart city applications. This partnership with the Osceola School District is part of Osceola County and NeoCity Links’ efforts to establish relationships with Korean companies expanding into the U.S. market. Osceola County is working on a Memorandum of Understanding with SRS to establish the company’s Regional Headquarters at NeoCity, which will include a design, research, development, manufacturing, testing, and sales center.

The implementation of this technology comes in response to the tragic incident in January, where a 9-year-old boy was fatally struck by a school bus in Orange County after crawling underneath the bus after exiting. The SRS radar system’s 360-degree detection capability aims to prevent such tragedies by alerting bus drivers if an object or human is under the bus.

These advancements in radar sensor technology have the potential to significantly enhance the safety and efficiency of school bus operations across the nation, potentially saving countless lives.