Self-driving cars used to be nothing more than a dream; now they’re becoming a reality. But with all this increasingly advanced technology comes new concerns for the safety and well-being of drivers and passengers alike. Luckily, a whole host of technological advances in autonomous cars have arrived that will help us all safely navigate the road.
eyeSight Technologies is just one of the companies working on making semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles safe for the road. One of the key focuses of the company is driver safety; and the methods they’re using to keep people secure on the road are astonishing.
Driver recognition will be a major component in safety. By processing the age and gender of the driver, the semi-autonomous car will be able to adjust accordingly to their specific needs and desires. This will allow the car to factor in such things as experience (as with student drivers) or slower reaction times (such as with senior citizens). Additionally, the car will be able to provide drivers with targeted entertainment and information.
Perhaps even more important when it comes to safety, distracted drivers will have a new tool to keep them focused. These cars will track eye movement and use it to determine awareness, attention, and whether or not the driver is falling asleep. If their attention strays or they start to get too tired, the car will ping them, thereby getting the driver’s attention back to where it needs to be.
Infotainment sounds pretty complicated, but it’s actually a simple and fun concept. By providing a stream of information about where the car is going and the surroundings, while targeted entertainment is simultaneously offered. If that sounds like a big distraction from the road, eyeSight Technologies has you covered: instead of relying on a touch screen that takes your focus from the road, the semi-autonomous cars respond to hand gestures. You’ll be able to answer a call or silence some music simply by moving your fingers in a certain way. That means your eyes can stay on the road, and you can stay safe.
