“[IDEMIA]  has designed a smartphone-based digital key system for end users, which operates with facial recognition to enable entry to the vehicle.”

IDEMIA has teamed up with engineering services provider Altran to develop a new autonomous vehicle dubbed “Columbia”. The small car is designed for use on either a personal or a shared basis, and could even be used for package delivery.

While Altran handled the engineering of the traditional automotive components, IDEMIA brought to the table a number of innovative technologies. The company has designed a smartphone-based digital key system for end users, which operates with facial recognition to enable entry to the vehicle. It also developed a camera-based system that “monitors driver behavior and interacts with the driver to return control of the vehicle to the human driver in the event of unforeseen circumstances,” according to a statement announcing the vehicle.

It’s the latest sign of the growing convergence between automotive and biometric technologies, with Altran having also partnered with fingerprint sensor specialist Fingerprints earlier this year to develop smart car solutions. Commenting on this new effort, Altran VP Pascal Brier said “Altran is proud to be working closely with IDEMIA and contribute significantly to the evolution of mobility and resource-sharing with this two-in-one service,” adding, “This new service allows us to meet the needs of both end-users and B2B players in one combined solution.”

The companies plan to showcase their Columbia solution at this year’s Paris Motor Show, which is scheduled to run from October 4th to 14th.