Filed under: Aftermarket, Tech
Retrofit a fingerprint immobilizer in your car
Just ten years ago, a fingerprint scanner connected to a car's ignition would have sounded like something Q installed in 007's next Aston. Things are quite different today, with the proliferation of biometric readers on cheap devices like USB keys and laptops. The next step is obviously the modding crowd, so we're not surprised that such in-car systems can now be found for sale on the web.
A new device, called the ATRD M10, makes it possible for you - and only you - to fire up your pride and joy. To start the car you need to pop in the key and turn in the ignition, then place your finger on the small scanner pad and wait for a LED indicator to turn green.
If the fingerprint doesn't match up with the ones saved on the device, the car won't start. It's that simple. Its makers have even thought of what to do if you send your car in for service. There's a special 'valet' mode that allows you to turn off the scanner if you need someone else to drive and you're not around to lend a helping hand.
[Source: PistonHeads]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Phillip 1:39PM (8/24/2007)
Now if only I can retro fit this on the fridge and pantry...
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Scott 1:41PM (8/24/2007)
great, now carjackers will just cut off your fingers if they want to jack you. Good thinking!
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Quattroporte 1:54PM (8/24/2007)
If these fingerprint scanners are as easy to beat as those on the Mythbusters, all the thiefs need are the fingerprints that are probably on your car.
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John 2:00PM (8/24/2007)
depends, good biometric setups can detect a pulse and will only work when one is present with the fingerprint.
SPG 2:02PM (8/24/2007)
Pretty cool, I'm getting an Immobilizer through the government owned insurance company where I live with no extra cost/deductible to me. And before you think my fees are going to go up, they are not. Better chance they are going down due to surplus’s from the last two years.
The government is really serious about car theft here in Manitoba and really all of Canada now.
I dunno about a fingerprint scanner though. It does not seems that Immobilizers are at a point of reliability where we can start adding extras just yet.
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AutoXN 4:07PM (8/24/2007)
How does a free immobilizer make the government serious about auto theft? How about some laws that don't protect these 14 year old kids once they get caught.
Would you have installed an immobilizer if MPI didn't pay for it? Probably not since you haven't already but now that it's free.....yeah for you.
SPG 5:16PM (8/24/2007)
Would I of installed an Immobilizer had there not been an MPI issued Immobilizer coming to me?
Honestly it was either that or a full out Viper style alarm.
I have not had the car very long.
How does that make the Government serious about auto theft? Have you read a newspaper in Manitoba in the past six months? This is a huge deal that has been all over the media often getting the front page treatment. The Immobilizers are only one step in their plan of the government and huge voter bait. The politicians realize if they don't try to tackle that issue they won't get votes.
The fourteen year old kids getting protected after they steal your car, run you over, smash into your mother's house and then let you the taxpayer deal with the cost?
Half of me says that I was young too and i might of stolen a couple of cars and that's part of growing up (still very very wrong) and the other half of me wants to throw them into a woodchipper feet first.
At that age it's more then just growing up though, it's a huge social problem that will take many years to even begin to solve. I hope these kids get the help they need to become responsible productive adults.
And like any other Winnipeg resident I'm mad as hell that I can never know if my car is going to be destroyed or used to run down a jogger everytime it's out of my sight.
Tim UF 2:21PM (8/24/2007)
10 years ago Q would've been installing it in a BMW... i'm just sayin...
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Kowell 2:23PM (8/24/2007)
Given that it'S been proven multiples times that these things are easy to beat, is there really such a huge market?
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Alex 3:11PM (8/24/2007)
There is definitely a market. It's like push button ignitions. Does a Nissan Sentra really need one? Of course not, but it looks cool. Similarly, a finger print scanner will look super cool and hi-tec. It'll also give people a tremendous feeling of security, even if it is unwarranted.
Js 2:39PM (8/24/2007)
and ehm....what if you get a scratch on your finger or an injury ? How do you start your car then ?
Personally this sounds really nice, but I don't think it will be very practical for daily use... I mean, its just like those combination locks that Ford put on the doors a few years back; nobody used them...
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_Jon 2:48PM (8/24/2007)
Sorry, dude, but those "combination locks" on the outside of our cars is hugely popular. I can't share the survey data in raw form, but we've got years of reports to show that customers have been swayed to purchase our vehicles based upon just that feature. Furthermore, we did a study in '95 that customers would be willing to pay $800 for that _one_ feature.
You may not like the feature - or Fords - but we've got data to show your opinion is your opinion. I respect your opinion, but it isn't fact.
superjeff 2:51PM (8/24/2007)
You could put all 10 fingers in the database.
Torqued 3:04PM (8/24/2007)
My girlfriend has one of the combination locks on her ford and I love it!
joekawasaki2000 3:09PM (8/24/2007)
You can't associate the two. (Technology & Ford) Besides most of the cars those were put on belonged to people that were having a hard time remembering anything anymore, except thier first car actually having a removeable leather trunk. The scanner on my computer holds 4 prints per user, but on a single print scratches could be a problem. I have an extra one in a closet that I have set aside for a kill switch project(it's been there for almost a decade) I guess someone beat me to it:)
hokiebird 3:03PM (8/24/2007)
I'm not sure how this is actually wired up, but it would have to be decently complex to prevent a theif from ripping open the dash and bypassing it.
Either way it doesn't matter. If a good theif wants your car they will get it. I doubt a finger print scanner will stop a tow truck.
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Logik 5:57PM (8/24/2007)
I guess then that, he's not really a [good] thief. Anyone can be trained to tow cars in a few minutes. Many cars have tilt/tow sensors, which will sound the alarm.
roGer 3:27PM (8/24/2007)
for real security (and not just looks) you can hide the scanner under your steering column or other less visible area. then it'll just seem like the battery is dead or something to the thief. not a perfect solution, but surely this method will save a few cars from getting stolen.
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RicardoHead 3:30PM (8/24/2007)
My girlfriend has one of these installed on her body. Pop my finger on it and she turns on. I still doubt, though, that it really only works for my finger.
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Tool 5:36PM (8/24/2007)
Cool. Does it come with "Pussy Galore" in the next seat, too?
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