Smart Cars Protect Your Pet While You’re Running Errands

Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is among those that are deploying technology to protect the occupants of vehicle passenger compartments.

In the case of Rivian, it has used its most recent software update to add Pet Comfort, a suite of features meant to protect pets that are left in unattended vehicles. Together, the features maintain a safe temperature in the cabin, let passersby know that the pets are safe, and notify the owner via the Rivian mobile app if any problems occur.

The automaker said this system is designed only for pets, and that children should never be left unattended in a vehicle.

“As one of the most customer-requested features, Pet Comfort is the latest example of how software updates can continually improve not just the R1 driving experience, but numerous safety and convenience features as well,” the Rivian announcement stated. “With each software update, we will continue to add new capabilities, evolve our [user interface (UI)] and enhance our existing features.”

Delivering Updates, Notifications via Mobile App

In practice, the use of the Pet Comfort features starts by pressing a paw icon on one of the vehicle’s screens. The owner can set a temperature within a safe range, or the system will automatically set it to 72 degrees, and then it will maintain that temperature within the cabin. In addition, the cabin movement sensor is deactivated so that the vehicle’s interior alarm is disabled.

To reassure passersby who might see the pet inside the vehicle, the center display will show Gear Guard — Rivian’s animated character featured on the screen for this and other duties — along with the current cabin temperature, the set point and a message saying, “My pet is safe and comfy.”

When owners are away from the vehicle, they can check the current status of Pet Comfort on the Rivian mobile app. They will also receive notifications through the app if the feature turns off, if the vehicle’s battery is running low or if the cabin’s temperature gets too high.

Rivian said the Pet Comfort feature can be used, “[w]henever you need to briefly leave your pet inside the vehicle when the outside temperature is uncomfortably hot or cold.”

Protecting Vehicle Occupants

This feature delivered via software update joins several other technologies that have recently been announced that aim to protect vehicle occupants.

For example, Toyota Connected North America (TCNA) announced May 31 that it is developing technology to help prevent heatstroke deaths that can happen when children or pets are left behind in a parked vehicle or climb inside an unattended vehicle and get stuck.

Read more: Auto Suppliers Develop Cabin Monitoring Systems to Protect Children, Pets

TCNA’s concept technology, which is being tested in prototype vehicles, helps detect occupants and then alerts the driver or passersby of their presence when the driver has left the vehicle, using first a warning light on the instrument cluster and then the horn, the emergency lights and notifications sent through the Toyota app.