On top of its new collaboration with Microsoft, Harman has revealed a new pupil-based driver monitoring system at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016. The new technology is designed to keep drivers safe by continuously monitoring their eyes’ pupils to prevent excessive cognitive loads.
Claimed as an industry-first in vehicle safety systems, the new tech measures pupil dilation to tell if or not a driver is mentally overworked. Harman explains that its “proprietary eye and pupil tracking system measures high cognitive load and mental multitasking in the driver’s seat, and signals the car’s other safety systems to adapt to the driver’s state.”
Constant pupil monitoring by the camera allows the computer to analyse pupil reflexes and identify responses triggered by high mental activity. Once the system detects that a driver’s attention is too thinly spread, it can instruct, for example, connected mobile devices to enter a “do-not-disturb” mode, or tell other advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to minimise further physical and mental distraction to the driver.
The technology relies on a vehicle’s driver-facing camera, and is said to eliminate the need for complex sensors building into seats and steering wheels or other type of sophisticated biometric sensors.
Alon Atsmon, vice president of technology strategy at Harman said that, “safety on the road is more important than ever as more vehicles become connected. Harman is advancing the state of the art for solutions that balance drivers’ desire to stay connected in the car without a compromise to their safety and security.”
“Our priority is to arm OEMs with a holistic range of integrated technologies that address both driver wants and needs, and the Harman eye and pupil tracking technology is another advanced step toward a more intelligent driving experience,” he concluded.
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So.. I can’t wear sunglasses when i drive?