Sony has filed a patent for an in-car scent system that releases fragrances based on detected advertisements. The technology, published by the USPTO on November 5, utilizes exterior cameras, GPS, and advertising databases to identify billboards or digital ads and trigger corresponding smells.
The system includes interior cameras to analyze passengers, including their estimated age and gender. This data allows the vehicle to direct specific fragrances toward individual seats rather than the entire cabin. The intensity of the scent can also increase as the vehicle approaches the advertisement location.
Beyond roadside billboards, the patent covers integration with commercials played on infotainment screens, radio, and connected devices. The hardware consists of scent cartridges and blowers. The filing also suggests using the system for signature scents during vehicle startup or for taxi services.
Commercialization remains uncertain, as the technology requires adoption by automakers and coordination with advertisers to populate the scent-management database. The patent also raises potential privacy concerns regarding the use of interior cameras for demographic analysis.
