Harman’s New Tech Keeps Track of the Eyes

If driving while tired is risky, how much more driving while overstimulated or distracted? To address these problems, Harman has recently premiered a new technology that accurately monitors all of these states. Its highly innovative eye and pupil tracking system monitors the driver’s cognitive workload so that their car responds properly.

Systems for tracking driver drowsiness, such as those utilizing steering wheel sensors and face monitoring, are already available in the market. However, Harman claims that its latest technology is an industry first and represents a huge step forward in the domain of Advanced Safety and Driver Monitoring Systems for vehicles.

The technology utilizes a driver-facing camera, without the need for steering wheel, seat or biometric sensors. It constantly tracks pupil dilation as an indication of the driver’s mental workload. There is also a software algorithm used to examine the pupil reflex data gathered and that identifies times when the driver is under a high cognitive workload.

This information can be communicated to the other safety systems in a car, enabling them to respond properly. For instance, mobile devices can be put into do-not-disturb mode and driver assistance system intervention thresholds can be fine-tuned as appropriate.

Harman’s eye and pupil tracking system is being exhibited at CES, which kicked off on January 6 and will run until the 9th.