Autoliv, Inc., a developer of automotive safety systems, will collaborate with Seeing Machines, a designer of computer vision-based human sensing technologies, to develop next-generation driver monitoring systems (DMS) for autonomous vehicles.

According to the NHTSA, in the United States 3477 people were killed and 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015 alone. The American Automobile Association also states that 21% of crashes in which a person was killed involved a drowsy driver. Autoliv and Seeing Machines are collaborating to address this issue by developing a DMS that can detect distracted and drowsy drivers by accurately measuring eye and head position, driver attention, and fatigue. The DMS will invoke action when a dangerous situation is detected or imminent.

Reliable understanding of driver state will also enable Autoliv development of technologies critical for supporting highly autonomous driving functions, with safe hands-off-wheel operation. Within the collaboration, Autoliv will serve as the Tier 1 supplier to automotive OEMs to produce the driver monitoring systems for future awarded business.

"Autoliv and Seeing Machines have teamed up to reduce distracted driver accidents," says Johan Löfvenholm, President, Autoliv Electronics. "We both share a passion for saving more lives, and together, we will create one of the most advanced driver monitoring systems in the world."

"The collaboration between Seeing Machines and Autoliv is an excellent fit within our expanding partnership ecosystem" added Mike McAuliffe, CEO of Seeing Machines. "Both companies are technical leaders deeply committed to advancing safer driving through the development and deployment of our advanced DMS technologies for Automotive OEMs."