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

  • Ten US automakers commit to automatic braking on new vehicles
    September 14, 2015
    Ten major vehicle manufacturers have committed to making automatic emergency braking (AEB) a standard feature on all new vehicles built, the US Department of Transportation, its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced today. The announcement, made at the dedication of IIHS's newly expanded Vehicle Research Center, represents a major step toward making crash prevention technologies more widely available to consumers. The ten c
  • Sorting myth from reality in vehicle automation
    June 2, 2016
    Bob Denaro looks beyond the hype surrounding autonomous vehicles to the challenges that still need to be overcome. Automated vehicles (AVs) may be the perfect storm – in a positive way - with the automobile manufacturers, the government and consumers all embracing the emergence of a transformational new technology and product.
  • TfL to trial new bus sensor technology
    August 1, 2014
    Transport for London (TfL) is to trial detection software to enhance bus driver awareness of pedestrians and cyclists. The six-week trial will start later this month as part of a continued drive to improve road safety in the capital. Four buses will be fitted with brand new pedestrian and cyclist detection software which directly alerts bus drivers when pedestrians and cyclists are moving close to their vehicles, helping to reduce collisions. TfL is trialling two systems, CycleEye from Fusion Processi
  • Machine vision makes progress in traffic applications
    June 2, 2014
    Machine Vision technology is easing the burden on hard-pressed control room staff and overloaded communications networks.