Driver Workload Managers Getting Plenty of Attention
IVsource.net
11 May 2001

As the "heat" regarding driver distraction in the US continues to rise, development of intelligent driver workload managers -- onboard systems that monitor the driver's current state of readiness before providing more sensory input -- is seen as increasingly important.

As the "heat" regarding driver distraction in the US continues to rise, development of intelligent driver workload managers -- onboard systems that monitor the driver's current state of readiness before providing more sensory input -- is seen as increasingly important.

A number of these types of systems are in development throughout the passenger vehicle industry.  A simple example of an application: ringing for a cell phone call would be delayed by the manager if the driver is inthe middle of making a lane change or at a busy intersection.

Currently, industry heavyweights Delphi and Motorola have publicly discussed their systems -- both of them combine sensing outside the vehicle (to assess driving / traffic complexity) with sensing inside the vehicle (to monitor where the driver's attention seems to be) to manage the flow of additional stimulus and information to the driver.  Motorola refers to its system as a "Driver Advocate;" Delphi prefers the term "Driver Workload Manager."  Toyota, which also has an active development program in this area, uses the more benign "co-pilot" when describing this capability.    

Technology developers take note:  while a basic level of this capability is available now with today's technology, substantial progress must be made in "intelligent machine perception" for such systems to truly do the job intended for them.  A strong need is seen for metrics, base guidelines, methodologies, and standards to unite the industry and provide robust solutions that will both enhance safety and keep the regulators at bay.

For instance, at Motorola's Human Interface Lab, their Driver Advocate watches the road while performing lane tracking and forward obstacle detection, and exchanges information with similarly equipped vehicles through vehicle-to-vehicle communications.  Driver monitoring approaches include eye-tracking and other bio-sensors.  At Delphi, the same types of monitoring occur -- with outputs integrated directly with their "Communiport" driver presentation system, which is disabled when algorithms deem that the driver must not be interrupted.

For More Information ...

... access www.motorola.com or www.delphiauto.com on the web, although no specific information on driver workload managers can be found there yet.

... on workload managers and driver distraction in general, check out the results of a NorthernLight.com search on the subject.

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