Over the past few years, there’s been a lot of talk about the danger of texting while driving, and with good reason. At a red light, all you have to do is look at the vehicle next to you to surprise a motorist who is texting frantically and who will not necessarily stop once the light turns green…
Posted at 11:45 a.m.
That said, another danger concerns us all, namely fatigue, which causes enormous damage on the roads of Quebec.
To date, drowsiness at the wheel is one of the most common causes of accidents in Quebec. DMS (or Driver Sense) technology, which is expected to gain our vehicles over the next few years, should prove valuable in this regard since it aims precisely to eliminate this problem or, at least, to mitigate it.
We’re talking about a monitoring system that spys on the driver, tracks his condition and provides him with sound alerts as soon as he detects drowsiness, distraction or dangerous actions. The system will know if he is wearing his seatbelt or not, if he is holding a phone in his hands, if he is smoking and if he is wearing a mask.
When it comes to drowsiness and distraction, one can imagine how essential the tool could prove to be for people who drive a lot. Think of truck drivers, who sometimes sleep too little, or all those who work nights and come home with the effects of jet lag in their bodies.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CIPIA
The Driver Sense monitoring system spies on the driver, tracks their condition and provides audible alerts whenever it detects drowsiness, distraction or unsafe actions.
How it works
In vehicles designed to accommodate Driver Sense, the monitoring system is based on Cipia software, a company that specializes in detection solutions for the automotive industry thanks to its expertise in computer vision and intelligence artificial. It is these two elements which, integrated into the Driver Sense, will make it possible to follow the driver behind the wheel.
With the help of an infrared sensor, the system scans the driver. It tracks the features of his face, his head posture, the dilation of his pupils, the frequency with which he blinks and the direction of his gaze, among others. With all this information, it is able to determine if the driver is concentrating on the road or, on the contrary, if he is distracted or drowsy.
In the second case, it will provide an alert to the driver, which, one suspects, can certainly save lives. Another advantage, collecting data over time will also help determine the routes on which drivers have a high rate of distraction, and the routes where drivers tend to fall asleep behind the wheel.
Finally, for good continuous use, the device will also monitor the video quality of the device, just to detect any hardware malfunction.
And a little extra
The DMS system was designed for monitoring and safety first and foremost, which will not prevent the driver from finding a few gadgets in passing.
In that vein, the system will offer a personalized little extra to enhance the experience of drivers who sign up. Thus, when it detects a driver who has been registered, the DMS will be able to tailor its cabin.
This driver will only have to get behind the wheel for the system to offer him the comfort he prefers. It will adjust the temperature of the vehicle, for example, the seat, the mirrors, not to mention the multimedia preferences. When the driver is on his way and receives a call, he only has to wave his hand in the air to take the call, without any manipulation.
A piece of music is heard on the radio and appeals to the driver? All they have to do is give that song a thumbs-up in the air to their music playlist. Same thing in the opposite case. If he wants to interrupt the sound, he will only have to put a finger on his mouth to indicate his preference for silence.
And as long as it’s superfluous, the device can also indicate the new businesses that line the road and which could interest the driver, depending on his age and gender…
The system is on its way
A few months ago, the company Cipia announced that its system could now be adapted to 23 vehicle models from five car manufacturers, including an electric car manufacturer located in the United States, as well as two major Chinese car manufacturers whose vehicles are destined for western markets.
Therefore, the system is not widespread everywhere, but it is gaining ground.