Seeing Machines Teams with TK Holdings Inc. to Deliver Driver-Monitoring Technology into Cars for Major Global Automotive Manufacturer
Seeing Machines, (AIM: SEE) is proud to announce the signing of a 15 year strategic alliance with TK Holdings Inc., the Americas subsidiary of Takata Corporation (Takata) an automotive industry leader in the supply of advanced driver safety systems (ADAS). The companies have been collaboratively developing driver monitoring technology for two years and have recently secured a contract to deliver the first ever mass-manufactured implementation of a driver-monitoring system that will warn drivers of lapses in attention, reducing the risk of potentially fatal accidents.
The formalisation of the strategic alliance is a result of a joint belief that driver-monitoring systems are one of the next major innovations in automotive safety due to the myriad of in-vehicle infotainment and mobile devices, which all compete for the driver’s limited attention. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one of every ten fatal crashes in the U.S. involves distraction – this technology underpins the future of intelligent safety systems, allowing a driver to share their attention without compromising safety.
The strategic alliance is responding to potential product opportunities from numerous global automotive manufacturers and the alliance will also pursue opportunities beyond passenger cars, into all forms of road-going vehicles. The agreement with TK Holdings Inc. is another step in the implementation of Seeing Machines’ recently announced business strategy. In 2013, Seeing Machines announced a strategic agreement with Caterpillar Inc. that has resulted in the worldwide availability of its Fatigue Monitoring Systems through Caterpillar authorised dealers.
The Seeing Machines’ Operator Monitoring System is based on patented eye-tracking technology that uses sensing equipment that requires no re-calibration between different drivers and tracks head alignment for potential distraction of the driver.
“Eye and head tracking technology is the next step in automotive safety, and will play a significant role in the reduction of one of the greatest causes of accidents: driver distraction,” said Ken Kroeger, CEO of Seeing Machines. “We strongly believe that the addition of driver monitoring to ADAS will deliver a significant improvement to the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”
