Skip to main content

Driver monitoring systems ‘will use inward-looking camera-based technology’

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Strategies for Driver Monitoring Systems in Europe, indicates that, as the loss of driver attention due to fatigue or drowsiness is a common cause of road accidents worldwide, there is a clear need for driver monitoring systems (DMSs) globally. DMSs can analyse driver behaviour or detect patterns tending towards micro-sleep to issue appropriate warnings and help revive the driver’s focus. Several original equipment manufacturers (O
November 9, 2015 Read time: 3 mins
New analysis from 2097 Frost & Sullivan, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Strategies for Driver Monitoring Systems in Europe, indicates that, as the loss of driver attention due to fatigue or drowsiness is a common cause of road accidents worldwide, there is a clear need for driver monitoring systems (DMSs) globally.

DMSs can analyse driver behaviour or detect patterns tending towards micro-sleep to issue appropriate warnings and help revive the driver’s focus. Several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have therefore adopted behaviour-based DMS that employ frontal cameras, steering angle sensors and sensors on the steering wheel.

However, the current generation of behaviour-based sensors used in passenger vehicles is capable of harbouring only two to three functions at most. Many vehicle OEMs are therefore moving from behaviour-based DMSs towards advanced inward-looking camera-based systems.

The analysis finds that the total DMS shipment in the passenger vehicle market was approximately 4.44 million units in 2014 and estimates this to reach 5.61 million by 2021.

“Due to the need to improve existing functions, while adding new ones to enhance the human-machine interface (HMI), OEMs are exploring vision-based sensors such as infrared mono or stereo cameras facing the driver,” said Frost & Sullivan intelligent mobility senior research analyst Anirudh Venkitaraman. “With the aid of these products, OEMs are planning the introduction of functions such as gesture recognition, mood detection, eye monitoring, driver identification and health monitoring.”

Deciding on the number of functions to provide within DMS and sharing the hardware cost across safety and HMI functions will prove vital for OEMs. It will also be worthwhile to offer a value justification for customers to invest in DMS-equipped vehicles with feature additions and partner with capable suppliers to develop cost-competitive solutions.

“For now, even though several tier-one suppliers possess a strong DMS sensor portfolio, vehicle OEMs’ approach to adoption has not been aggressive enough,” noted Venkitaraman. “While certain OEMs offer DMS as a standard fitment in their vehicle line-up, many others look to extend this technology only as an option.”

Over time, vehicle OEMs will realise that adding more driver interactive features within DMS will enable them to pitch the technology not only as a safety enabler but also as one’s personal assistant while driving. They will find that DMS has special importance in the context of semi and highly automated driving as well as manual driving.

Related Content

  • December 11, 2013
    Coach crash-prevention system tracks drivers' eyes
    Australian facial tracking systems developer Seeing Machines has teamed up with European coach and tour operator Royal Beuk, in a deal that will see the deployment of automated fatigue monitoring systems to ensure driver alertness and safeguard coach passengers. The Seeing Machines fatigue monitoring system is based on patented eye-tracking technology that can detect if a driver is distracted or falling asleep at the wheel. Using sensing equipment that requires no re-calibration between different drive
  • January 26, 2018
    Jenoptik uses sensor fusion to avoid monitoring confusion
    Jenoptik’s Uwe Urban looks at the advantages of ‘sensor fusion’ for the ITS sector. When considering the ideal sensing and monitoring system to enable the ITS sector to deliver improvements in mobility and road safety, for general policing security and border protection, we have to think beyond radar-base systems or laser scanners. What is needed today are solutions for detecting and tracking vehicles while recording evidence to deacide if any action is necessary. There is no sole sensor capable of
  • June 21, 2012
    Electrified transmissions to become the preferred choice for premium OEMs
    New analysis from Frost & Sullivan predicts that electrified transmissions will experience increased penetration in both European and North American regions due to the increased focus on hybrid vehicles and their positive impact on emissions and fuel economy. However, end-user preference for automatic transmissions (AT) in North America and for manual transmissions (MT) in Europe will dictate the market penetration of the type of transmission technology with integrated electric motors.
  • January 11, 2017
    Truck digitisation and tech developments in freight ‘will boost Europe’s CV telematics market’
    According to research by Frost & Sullivan, growth opportunities are strengthening in the commercial vehicle (CV) telematics market in Europe with the imminent arrival of value-added services such as video-based safety solutions, mobile base on-demand freight exchange platforms, and field service management solutions. While penetration of fleet management services (FMS) in large and medium fleets is relatively high, addressing challenges such as awareness, adequate training, and better business cases are key