Harman reveals first pupil-based driver monitoring system at CES 2016

Driving while tired, distracted or over-stimulated may become a thing of the past, thanks to new technology unveiled by Harman International Industries which measures increases in pupil dilation as an indication of a driver’s mental workload.

Harman ‘s new proprietary eye and pupil tracking system measures high cognitive load and mental multitasking in the driver’s seat, and signals the car’s other safety systems to adapt to the driver’s state. The technology represents a major step forward in the domain of Advanced Safety and Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) for vehicles.

Adoption of in-cabin cameras is growing rapidly, enabling features such as occupant detection and driver drowsiness monitoring. With the introduction of high cognitive load detection, Harman’s eye and pupil tracking technology brings additional value to the driver-facing camera. The technology eliminates the need for complex sensors built into seats and steering wheels, or biometric sensors that require physical contact with the driver. This camera continually captures the driver’s pupil dilation, and a proprietary software algorithm analyses the pupil reflex using advanced filtering and signal processing. The filter isolates and identifies responses triggered by high cognitive load. The calculated outputs are used to intuitively adjust user interfaces, like placing mobile devices in do-not-disturb mode or adjusting ADAS system intervention thresholds to minimize physical and mental distraction to the driver. 

“Safety on the road is more important than ever as more vehicles become connected. Harman is advancing the state of the art for solutions that balance drivers’ desire to stay connected in the car without a compromise to their safety and security,” said Alon Atsmon, vice president of technology strategy at Harman. “Our priority is to arm OEMs with a holistic range of integrated technologies that address both driver wants and needs, and the Harman eye and pupil tracking technology is another advanced step toward a more intelligent driving experience.”

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- Toyota Research Institute to develop next-gen autonomous tech

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