Could Facial Tracking Reduce Distracted Driving?

Israeli firm eyeSight Technologies just announced a new sensing system that aims to reduce in-vehicle distraction by monitoring drivers.

This company’s latest human-machine interface aims to improve safety by keeping tabs on whoever’s behind the wheel. In addition to this, the technology offers several other benefits.

Powered by an infrared monochrome sensor that works in a variety of lighting conditions from direct sun to complete darkness, eyeSight’s latest creation can detect whether a driver is distracted or even drowsy. It achieves this by keeping tabs on their head position, eyelid openness, and iris location.

This information can then be passed on to the vehicle so it can take proactive steps to improve safety. For example, if adaptive cruise control is engaged, the car or truck could automatically increase following distance if it knows the motorist isn’t giving his or her full attention to the task at hand.

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Beyond safety, this technology can also recognize individual drivers through facial analysis. All they have to do is sit down and the sensors can figure out who they are. By identifying the person in the captain’s chair, a vehicle can automatically customize the driving experience by adjusting the seat, setting a desired temperature or even selecting preferred music.

Aside from safety and convenience, eyeSight’s latest offering also supports touch-free gesture controls, something that’s supported by the same infrared sensor, meaning no additional electronics are required. This technology has the potential to simplify various tasks and eliminate the need to look away from the road to interact with a physical control, which should reduce distraction, increasing safety.

Beyond the automotive space, eyeSight Technologies’ embedded computer vision solutions can be used in virtual- and augmented-reality devices, consumer electronics, smart appliances and more. Look for this company to make a big impact in the way we interact with vehicles in the coming years.

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