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.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Towards intelligent road infrastructure
    October 8, 2021
    A digital transformation is happening in the world today and the result is that Europe’s transport infrastructure, and also the car industry are experiencing revolutionary changes. Jēkabs Krastiņš looks at the challenges and plots the road ahead.
  • Missouri’s smart solution for rural road monitoring
    July 7, 2017
    David Crawford sees how Missouri is using commercially available information to rapidly improve monitoring and driver information on rural highways. Missouri is a predominantly rural state with the second largest number of farms in the country and agriculture the main occupation in 97 of its 114 counties. US statistics starkly reveal how road accidents in rural areas tend to be more serious than in urban regions and of the 32,000 US motorists killed each year, 54% die on roads in rural areas even though onl
  • Shipments of NFC-enabled handsets reached 30 million units in 2011
    April 4, 2012
    According to a new research report by Berg Insight, global sales of handsets featuring near field communication (NFC) increased ten-fold in 2011 to 30 million units. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 87.8 per cent, shipments are forecasted to reach 700 million units in 2016. The global rise in smartphone adoption is also driving higher attach rates for other wireless connectivity technologies in handsets including GPS, Bluetooth and WLAN. These connectivity technologies are already a standa
  • M&S looks all around to reduce collisions
    June 20, 2014
    UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) is trialling the latest 360-degree camera system from Brigade and technology partner, ASL Vision, to further improve safety on its lorry fleet. As systems offering a surround view in a single image become more widespread on rigid trucks, M&S wants to find out if the benefits can be extended to articulated vehicles. An initial trial was set up using the Backeye 360 Elite system from Brigade Electronics with powerful software from ASL Vision at its core. The trial is now to b