New Technology to Reduce Drowsy Driving Fatalities

Hyundai Mobis will unveil its latest life-saving DDREM (Departed Driver Rescue & Exit Maneuver) technology, which uses three checkpoints to determine if a driver begins to depart from the driving role, and requires assistance.

If departure is detected, DDREM technology takes over driving controls, scans the environment and guides the vehicle to a safe stopping point away from traffic.

The stakes are high.  Consider the statistics: The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates for the U.S., over 20% of traffic fatalities per year – approximately 7,000 deaths – are due to drowsy driving.

Mobis DDREM technology is being developed to save many of these lives. “By narrowing our focus to the safety aspects of autonomy, we can bring lifesaving level 4 autonomous technology into passenger cars quickly,” said David Agnew, director of autonomous vehicle development, Hyundai Mobis North America. “Our research approach has been clinical; we are essentially working on a ‘cure’ for drowsy driving injuries and fatalities. Through this approach, we are building a technology that will save many lives and offer immense peace of mind to drivers and passengers.”

DDREM uses three identifiers to determine if a driver is at risk and compares driver actions to a database of drowsy driving incidents. Checkpoints include:

An infrared camera scans driver facial and eye movements to determine if the driver keeps eyes forward, changes blinking patterns or exhibits other signs of drowsiness. The camera used by Mobis has been tested and can “see” through glasses with ease;

The technology looks for key identifiers used in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) – if the driver is moving in and out of a lane, crossing lanes, zigzagging or making erratic movements consistent with drowsy driving accidents; and

If DDREM determines that the driver has fallen asleep, it transitions vehicle control to level 4 autonomous driving mode. The software uses vehicle hardware already found on most new cars – including electronic brakes, electric power steering, radars, and camera systems – as well as basic mapping and GPS to identify a safe place for the vehicle to pull over and stop. In most “rescue” cases, DDREM will only need to function in full autonomy mode for less than a mile, minimizing the exposure and complexity of the self-driving system.

Category: Driver Stuff, General Update, Management, News, Safety