GPS World

Tag: driver monitoring system

  • Quectel launches security solution for intelligent driving

    Quectel Wireless Solutions has launched its Proactive Security Solution for Intelligent Driving to enhance driving safety.

    The solution supports advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and driver monitoring systems (DMS).

    The Proactive Security Solution integrates Quectel multi-mode LTE Cat 6 smart modules SC600Y/SC600T and AI algorithm from a third party to realize ADAS and DMS capabilities including monitoring irregular driving behaviors, conducting precise detection of vehicles and traffic signs, sending warnings of potential risks and more.

    For ADAS, it can precisely identify and locate vehicles, pedestrians, lanes and traffic signs on the road and will send alerts to drivers if an imminent collision or an unintended lane departure is detected.

    Drivers will receive four types of warnings including lane departure warnings (LDW), forward collision warnings (FCW), headway monitoring and warning (HMW) and forward start warning (FSW).

    The DMS supports facial recognition and detection, and is able to monitor driver attentiveness and measure eye blinks as well as head movements. Drivers will receive warnings on any distraction such as making or receiving a call, smoking, yawning or looking around. For buses, taxi-hailing services or long-distance passenger vehicles, this solution also allows administrators to know more about their drivers’ states and improve management accordingly.

    The driver monitoring system supports facial recognition and detection. (Image: Quectel)
    The driver monitoring system supports facial recognition and detection. (Image: Quectel)

    Quectel Proactive Security Solution for Intelligent Driving features a rich set of interfaces and multiple hardware development platforms, designed to cut design-in time and facilitate integration for customers and OEMs.

    SC600T/SC600Y is Quectel’s new generation of multi-mode Smart LTE Cat 6 module with built-in Android 9.0 OS. Based on a Qualcomm octa-core and 64-bit high-performance processors with built-in Adreno 506 GPU, SC600T/SC600Y are designed to support high performance, various multimedia features and Quick Charge 3.0 technology. They are designed for both industrial and consumer applications with high data-rate and multimedia functions. Features include:

    • LTE Cat 6 modem supporting 2x20MHz carrier aggregation, with maximum download speed up to 300 Mbps
    • Worldwide LTE, UMTS/HSPA+ and GSM/GPRS/EDGE coverage
    • Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
    • Dual LCDs and dual touch panels for independent display and operation: 1920×1200 @60fps for primary display and 1920×1080 @60fps for secondary display, Wi-Fi display
    • Support up to four cameras, with two of them working simultaneously
    • Multi-constellation GNSS receiver available for applications requiring fast and accurate fixes in any environment
    • Support recording and playback of 4k videos at 30fps@SC600T/ 1080P videos at 60fps@SC600Y
    • Android 9 support
    • Global regulatory and carrier certifications

  • Volvo and Mercedes-Benz Driving Roll Out of ADAS as Standard Equipment in Cars

    ABI Research forecasts that the global market for Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) will reach 64.8 million units by the end of 2020 with the majority of shipments being accounted for in vehicles sold in the Asia-Pacific region. These findings are part of ABI Research’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Research Service and includes detailed installed base and forecasts of ADAS systems [‪advanced driver assistance systems‬] by regions.

    Driver Monitoring Systems were first introduced as far back as 2006 when Toyota launched its innovative Driver Attention Monitor system. Toyota’s system functions by directly monitoring the driver’s face using a discrete in-dash camera and was initially offered as an option in the company’s luxury Lexus models. Other OEMs soon followed suit and announced their own DMS systems which were typically based on monitoring the vehicle rather than the driver’s face.

    “DMS systems such as Mercedes-Benz’s ’Attention Assist’ and Volvo and Volkswagen’s ’Driver Alert’ systems were the first ADAS systems to be offered as standard equipment by OEMs, albeit only in a small selection of models,” comments Gareth Owen, principal analyst at ABI Research.

    Today, an increasing number of ADAS systems are gradually becoming standard equipment in new cars, particularly in some European and Japanese brands such as Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan Infiniti, Lexus, and Mazda, and more are being offered as options. Although some of the big U.S. brands offer ADAS features in their European models, they typically do not offer the same features in their U.S. models, although this is beginning to change. Ford is a good example of this with its Ford Focus model.

    “Another very observable trend in 2013 is that ADAS features are migrating from the luxury brands into B, C, and even A segment cars. Typically, the focus here is on offering ADAS systems, mostly as options, designed specifically for low-speed urban driving,” adds Owen.

    Prices are decreasing, too. For example, the European Ford Focus offers an emergency braking system plus lane departure warning and lane-keep assist, driver alert, and blind spot monitoring as an optional package for £550 ($880) in the UK. Meanwhile, Volkswagen offers its City Emergency Braking System for £225-£405 ($360-$648), depending on model, on its budget A segment Up! car. This uses a laser sensor to detect the risk of an imminent collision and is active at speeds under 30 km/hr (18 mph).

  • Wake up! Smartphone App Aims to Alert Drowsy Drivers

    A new technology to combat dozing off when driving is being developed by two universities with industry partner Ficosa. The drowsiness alerter, Somnoalert, is a smartphone application that uses inertial sensors and GPS data to detect movements that are characteristic of nodding off at the wheel, such as deviation from the driving lane or sudden corrections. A later prototype also incorporates biomedical sensors to analyze respiration data.

    The patented software is the result of a collaborative project between Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia’s Signal and Information Processing for Sensing Systems group led by Santiago Marco, the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya’s Department of Electronic Engineering and Ficosa, a Barcelona-based multinational that researches, develops, produces and commercializes automobile systems and parts.

    “One of the main causes of car accidents is drowsiness, especially on long highway trips,” explains Santiago. “Most monitoring systems developed in the last few years have been integrated systems that need to be connected to the car’s system. Our device combines our group’s expertise in sensors and biological data analysis with FICOSA’s vehicle know-how, and is completely portable.”

    “Accidents related with drowsiness have a very high social and economical impact, that the key automotive industry players are facing as a whole, in order to reduce current accident statistics,” said Alan Montesi, who heads the project for FICOSA.

    Here is a video of the app:

    Another video shows the use of the sensor: