OYSTER BAY, NY -- The automotive market has just begun to witness the emergence of onboard camera systems, primarily used for such applications as lane departure warning, and more safety features are ahead, a new study says.

In addition to watching the road ahead, automotive cameras will also be used to monitor the driver and occupants for several new safety applications over the next few years, according to ABI Research.

Onboard cameras are the predominant technologies earmarked for driver monitoring. Through the use of specialized algorithms, these cameras will monitor the driver and check for conditions of distraction or drowsiness. Cameras will also be used for occupant detection as part of next-generation airbag systems.

"We are expecting a new dynamic testing procedure to be released by NHTSA this year in the U.S., which will act as a catalyst towards the adoption of optics-based occupant detection systems, as well as other leading-edge technologies," said Robert Laguerra, senior analyst, in a press release. "This will significantly impact all automakers looking to sell to this market."

The major advantages of camera-based occupant detection systems over current pressure/weight sensor-based systems are in improving occupant classification and position-sensing (Is this an adult? a child? a suitcase?), and in dynamically suppressing airbag deployment.

This can save lives and decrease costs, ABI says, because the number of airbags in a vehicle has increased so much that it may soon cost more to replace all the deployed airbags in a vehicle than just to buy a new car.