Autoliv, Seeing Machines Team up to Develop Driver Monitoring Systems

August 18, 2017

Jennifer Shuttleworth

The driver monitoring systems (DMS) Autoliv and Seeing Machines are collaborating to develop can detect distracted and drowsy drivers by accurately measuring eye and head position, driver attention and fatigue. The companies claim the DMS will invoke action when a dangerous situation is detected or imminent. (image: Autoliv)

Automotive safety systems developer and manufacturer Autoliv, Inc. and Seeing Machines, developer of computer-vision based human sensing technologies, have started collaboration to develop next-generation driver monitoring systems (DMS) for autonomous vehicles.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the United States 3,477 people were killed, and 391,000 were injured, in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015 alone. The American Automobile Association also states that 21% of crashes in which a person was killed involved a drowsy driver. Autoliv and Seeing Machines are working together to address this issue by developing a DMS that can detect distracted and drowsy drivers by accurately measuring eye and head position, driver attention and fatigue. According to the companies, the DMS will invoke action when a dangerous situation is detected or imminent.

Reliable understanding of driver state will also enable Autoliv development of technologies critical for supporting highly autonomous driving functions, with safe hands-off-wheel operation. Within the collaboration, Autoliv will serve as the Tier 1 supplier to automotive OEMs to produce the driver monitoring systems for future-awarded business.

"Autoliv and Seeing Machines have teamed up to reduce distracted driver accidents," said Johan Löfvenholm, President, Autoliv Electronics, in a release statement about the partnership. "We both share a passion for saving more lives, and together, we will create one of the most advanced driver monitoring systems in the world."

Seeing Machines CEO Mike McAuliffe, added: "The collaboration between Seeing Machines and Autoliv is an excellent fit within our expanding partnership ecosystem. Both companies are technical leaders deeply committed to advancing safer driving through the development and deployment of our advanced DMS technologies for automotive OEMs".