SEAT working on AI that checks if driver is awake and with eyes wide open

MANILA: Spanish automobile manufacturer SEAT (Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo) is in the midst of research and development of an artificial intelligence that will help drivers fight fatigue behind the wheel.

“In total, more than 90% of road accidents in Europe are caused by human factor. The main reasons include distraction and tiredness, excessive speed and alcohol and drugs. At SEAT we are working on solutions to prevent negligence behind the steering wheel and significantly reduce road accidents. We partner with some of the world's brightest companies on important technology to save lives, since our long-term vision is a world with zero accidents,” said Stefan Ilijevic, the head of product innovation at SEAT.

Research has shown that driver distraction and/or tiredness are among the biggest threats on the road. It contributes to 36% of road traffic collisions.

SEAT is working with a couple of companies on this. One is Eyesight Technologies. Together, they’re dveloping advanced technology that studies a driver’s eyes and head movement to detect if he or she is falling asleep or distracted. It uses an algorithm which analyzes the eye openness, angle of vision, blink rate, and head position of the driver, along with other visual attributes.

In the event it detects that the driver is drowsy, asleep or perhaps distracted by their mobile phone, it will trigger an alert. The technology can also identify the driver from previous trips and adjust the seats, mirrors, heating settings and other cabin features according to their personal preferences.

Eventually, the software will be able to detect pedestrians and analyze whether the driver has spotted them as well.

The other company is Gauzy. It helps SEAT on an active glazing technology that adapts to the weather conditions. It gives the driver the ability to darken windows, within legal limits, to avoid being dazzled by the sun while lighten the windows in darker environments and weather conditions.

“If you want to be a leader of the disruption in the car industry instead of a spectator, then not only do you have to be in Tel Aviv, but in the world's other major technology hubs as well. If we want to shape the future, we have to be in the most innovative ecosystems. It not only enables you to be the first and apply new technologies, but you can also attract the best talent, as they want to work in companies that are spearheading change,” added Ilijevic.

Also Read: Toyota steps closer to autonomous driving with new HD map building ability