Skip to main content

Seeing Machines teams with TK Holdings on driver-monitoring

Responding to potential product opportunities from numerous global automotive manufacturers, Australian company Seeing Machines is to partner with TK Holdings, the US subsidiary of Takata in a 15 year strategic alliance on driver monitoring technology.
September 3, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

Responding to potential product opportunities from numerous global automotive manufacturers, Australian company 7861 Seeing Machines is to partner with TK Holdings, the US subsidiary of Takata in a 15 year strategic alliance on driver monitoring technology.

The companies have been collaboratively developing driver monitoring technology for two years and Takata has recently secured a contract, said to be with General Motors, to deliver its first ever mass-manufactured implementation of a driver-monitoring system that will warn drivers of lapses in attention.

The Seeing Machines’ operator monitoring system is based on patented eye-tracking technology that uses sensing equipment that requires no re-calibration between different drivers, while tracking head alignment for potential distraction of the driver.

Seeing Machines’ automated fatigue monitoring systems, which monitor fatigue and alert both the operators and their employers when the system detects distraction, have already been implemented in 5551 Caterpillar mining machines and are being trialled by European coach and tour operator Royal Beuk.

“Eye and head tracking technology is the next step in automotive safety, which we expect to play a significant role in the reduction of one of the greatest causes of accidents: driver distraction,” said Ken Kroeger, CEO of Seeing Machines. “We strongly believe that the addition of driver monitoring to ADAS will deliver a significant improvement to the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • NSW university launches high-tech safety study
    April 16, 2013
    Road experts led by Australia’s University of New South Wales (NSW) professor Mike Regan are to conduct what is said to be the most thorough traffic safety study in Australian history. Cameras inside and outside cars will film 400 volunteers in Victoria and New South Wales in an effort to analyse the cause of crashes and change driver education and road safety campaigns. The cameras will record how drivers behaved and reacted in ''real world'' situations. John Wall, manager of road safety technology with N
  • Debating the future development of ANPR
    July 31, 2012
    What future is there for automatic number plate recognition? Will it be supplanted by electronic vehicle identification, or will continuing development maintain the technology's relevance? In recent years, digitisation and IP-based communication networks have allowed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to achieve ever-greater utility and a commensurate increase in deployments. But where does the technology go next - indeed, does it have a future in the face of the increasing use of, for instance, Dedi
  • San Diego: Let there be (street)light
    March 30, 2020
    The influence of intelligent streetlights is spreading. David Crawford finds that San Diego’s deployment – and attendant legislation – may offer a blueprint for other cities going forward
  • Drivers get eyes in the back of their heads
    April 18, 2013
    Drivers of the new Nissan Note will be able to see a full 360-degrees, compared to the average human’s field of vision of around 120 degrees, thanks to Nissan's advanced engineering and sophisticated technologies. The new model, unveiled at last month's Geneva Motor Show, is the first Nissan to feature its advanced safety shield - a package of technologies that delivers a new level of driver assistance in the small car segment - along with the advanced around view monitor.