Traditionally, vehicle identification relies either on optical solutions (LPR) or physical markers (RFID, UHF, NFC). When it comes to using these technologies for purposes such as traffic analysis, all of them face clear limitations: markers are not widely deployed across all vehicles, while LPR struggles with data privacy and weather dependency.
Altas IT, together with Lithaunia’s Kaunas University of Technology, is developing a new identification technology that identifies each vehicle based on its unique magnetic signature — without requiring any additional devices or tags inside the vehicle and without the use of cameras.
 
The company believes the use of vehicles’ magnetic properties holds untapped potential. Each vehicle, due to its structure and unique characteristics, distorts the Earth’s magnetic field in its own way when passing over a sensor. These distortions form a kind of electromagnetic “fingerprint”.
“The magnetic signature enables vehicle identification based on its physical properties: this opens new possibilities for vehicle identification applications,” explains Vaidas Jucius, CPO at AltasTraffic – which is both a department within Altas IT and a brand of products.
 
1. Sensors – special sensors are installed under the road surface or above the road (e.g., under speed bumps).
2. Data capture – as a vehicle passes, the sensors measure distortions in the magnetic field.
3. Transmission chain – sensors send the data to a centralised cloud server through a communication module.
4. Signal processing – software filters out noise, extracts stable features, and generates each vehicle’s magnetic signature.
5. Matching module – signatures are indexed and compared with others to find a match.
 
The firm currently has a working prototype, which it continues to improve in joint experiments with Kaunas University of Technology researchers. 
The tests include:
• signal stability evaluation
• training of the matching algorithm under various traffic conditions
• experiments assessing signature formation characteristics
 
Altas says the results show the technology’s ability to generate recognisable signatures, match them, and thus identify vehicles. In addition to identification, the system can also measure speed, classify vehicles and count traffic flows.
Future development will focus on continous improving signature formation and matching accuracy, as well as exploring classification possibilities by vehicle make and engine type (electric vs ICE).
 
An important advantage of this technology is data anonymity. The platform does not record licence plates, faces, or any other direct personal identifiers, making it especially suitable for scenarios where minimising privacy risks is essential. 
Where personalised access is required (e.g. entry control), the magnetic signature can be integrated with existing authorisation systems under clear data management rules.
 
• Traffic analysis
• Access control
• Parking management
• Road tolling solutions
• Smart city integrations
 
All collected data can be conveniently shared with other systems via API or Webhook (for example, integrating into traffic analysis solutions or combining with LPR).
 
Magnetic signature technology enables vehicle identification without requiring additional devices inside the vehicle or camera infrastructure. It avoids criminal manipulation of licence plates and ensures a high level of privacy. The technology is still under development — but the experiments in real conditions conducted so far great potential.
If you work with traffic analysis, smart city projects, parking or access control systems — Altas invites you to join in the development of this technology and its applications, pilot deployments, idea sharing, or integration discussions.
Content produced in association with Altas IT

source