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He speaks the truth
https://www.independentinvestmenttrust.co.uk/media/4515/20221109115954_combination-of-assets-with-the-monks-investment-trust-plc-monks.pdf
Seize, you need to put these things in context.
CorrActions try to measure alcohol level and motion sickness, not eye gaze!
"would be powered by a camera-based system or millimeter wave radar.
Currently, the company mostly works with data from steering wheel sensors and pressure-based seat sensors, as well as motion data from apps used by fleet managers to communicate with their drivers"
Volvo fund them and see what happens over the next 3-5 years. I'm not worried.
It is always interesting to see what needs branding. It never happened on DMS, but Occupant Monitoring is the next level and if we can label it we can define what it means. Seeing Machines don't want to make a 'generic' OMS, they want to make and sell something special with their 'brand' as a sign of quality and as shorthand for a list of features that they can guarantee to be part of the product whereas others may rely on vagueness
JC, another processing optimisation patent which is quite broad. No idea if it is relevant to is
3D SENSING AND VISIBILITY ESTIMATION
I am not going into detail on this one - just another optimisation in 3d sensing
3D OBJECT DETECTION METHOD USING SYNERGY OF HETEROGENEOUS SENSORS FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING
this is just an optimisation on how to extract the locations of objects from LIDAR etc (3-d point cloud data) and camera (2d images) more efficiently.
There is no direct correlation between the GM patent application and the SEE job, this is just SEE topping up their talent pool, yes they have mentioned 3d computer, it just goes to show that SEE have moved on from their initial 2d work, through to inferred 3d models which use constraints of the human body to derive 3d positions from a 2d source. In the future they may have more to work with using alternative sensors?
ok, JC this is seriously futuristic stuff - and scares the **** out of me.
VIRTUAL MODELS FOR COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND EXTERNAL OBSERVERS
The vehicle sees a person outside of the car is gesticulating to the car. Now normally the driver would wave, or nod to the pedestrian to indicate that it is Ok for them to cross , acknowledging that they have been seen.
But this is too old fashioned for Qualcomm, so they will send a virtual reality picture to pedestrian - if the pedestrian is wearing a suitable "device" it will pair with the device and send the picture to their device so that it can display the image overlayed on the car (because we all wear AR / VR headsets)
Or for plebs who decide not to wear a VR headset - it will track our eyes and project the image direct from the car to the poor pedestrian so we get VR whether we want it or not!
Please, someone make this dystopian image go away! No it is following me, I now can't look in the direction of the car!
JC certain patents should never be seen!!
Woven is the new name for Toyota Research Institute - the names refers to Toyota's first products - Looms for making fabric.
I had a lot of respect for TRI and the research they did into assistive driving - with its Guardian letting the human drive, but it would "help" protect you, adjusting steering to help you steer around objects in an emergency without skidding for example.
But this patent is from the DARK SIDE - "ADVERTISING"
VEHICLE OCCUPANT GAZE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING is just to work out where to stick adverts at side of the road to get good eyeball coverage and therefore work out how much to rent them for!
RE: METHOD, PROCESSING DEVICE, AND DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR INFORMATION DISPLAY
This is an application that has a transparent display on the windows of a vehicle, it uses gaze tracking and head position to ensure the information on the screen corresponds to the drivers field of view. Gaze tracking is a black box in this patent, so not too interesting for us
Ford is also working with regulatory authorities and exploring opportunities to deliver BlueCruise via a future Ford Power-Up software update to Mustang Mach-E models equipped with the optional Tech Pack or Tech Pack + and built prior to 2023.
The Mother of All Road Trips
Ford engineers undertook 100,000 miles (160,000 km) of testing on European roads to validate latest-generation advanced driver assistance systems including BlueCruise and its supporting features, in addition to over 600,000 miles (965,000 km) covered in the US and Canada before the system was introduced to those markets last year. Validation drives in Great Britain helped prove out the ability to handle circumstances drivers encounter every day, such as worn-out lane markings, poor weather and roadworks.
“There’s a good reason why Ford BlueCruise is the first hands-free driving system of its kind to be cleared for use in a European country: We’ve proven that it can support the driver while still requiring that they keep their eyes on the road for their safety and that of their passengers while the system is active. That means BlueCruise can help make other road users’ journeys more comfortable too,” said Torsten Wey, chief engineer, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Ford Europe.
BlueCruise is the latest addition to the Mustang Mach-E’s suite of technologies that also includes Pre-Collision Assist, 2 Active Park Assist 2.0 2 and Ford’s SYNC 4A connectivity system 7 supported by a 15.5-inch touchscreen.
In addition, Ford Power-Up software updates can use the connectivity provided by FordPass Connect 8 to continuously improve the vehicle and add new features without leaving home.
Offering up to 372 miles (600 km) pure-electric driving range 9 between charges and supported by Ford's BlueOval Charge Network – Europe’s largest, with more than 450,000 chargers and growing – the Mustang Mach-E is among nine all-electric vehicles Ford plans to offer in Europe by 2024. Ford plans to achieve zero emissions for all vehicle sales and carbon neutrality across its European footprint of facilities, logistics and suppliers by 2035.
For more information, visit: https://www.ford.co.uk/technology/driving-assistance/ford-bluecruise & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dotX0NIXSW0
# # #
“Today marks a significant moment for our industry as Ford BlueCruise becomes the first hands-free driving system of its kind to receive approval for use in Great Britain,” said Lisa Brankin, managing director, Ford UK & Ireland. “We have always strived to make technology accessible for our customers, and BlueCruise is this next step on this journey, making motorway driving a more comfortable experience.”
Fine-tuned to deliver an intuitive and confidence-inspiring experience during more than 700,000 miles (1.1 million km) of Ford advanced driver assistance system testing globally, BlueCruise is a milestone in Ford’s journey to establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions.
“It is great news that Ford has chosen us for the European launch of its BlueCruise technology, and I am delighted that this country is once more at the forefront of innovation,” said Jesse Norman, UK Transport Minister. “The latest advanced driver assistance systems make driving smoother and easier, but they can also help make roads safer by reducing scope for driver error.”
Ford expects BlueCruise to be activated in further European countries as and when regulatory conditions permit, and will roll out the system to further Ford vehicles in the coming years.
Hands-off, eyes-on driving
BlueCruise builds on the capabilities of Ford’s Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (IACC), 2 which can automatically keep pace with traffic within legal speed limits, right down to a complete halt. Hands-free mode allows drivers on approved Blue Zone sections of motorway to drive with their hands off the steering wheel if they continue to pay attention to the road ahead – granting an additional level of comfort during long drives.
Before transitioning to hands-free driving, BlueCruise-equipped vehicles confirm that lane markings are visible, that the driver has their eyes on the road and that other conditions are appropriate. The system uses animated cluster transitions featuring text and blue lighting cues to communicate that the feature is in hands-free mode, effective even for those with colour blindness.
Operating up to a maximum speed of 80 mph (130 km/h), BlueCruise uses a combination of radars and cameras to detect and track the position and speed of other vehicles on the road. A forward-facing camera detects lane markings and speed signs and, crucially, the system also uses an infrared driver-facing camera located below the instrument cluster to check the driver’s eye gaze and head pose – even when they are wearing sunglasses – and ensure their attention remains focused on the road.
If the system detects driver inattention, warning messages are first displayed in the instrument cluster, followed by audible alerts, brake activations, and finally slowing of the vehicle while maintaining steering control. Similar actions are performed if the driver fails to place their hands back on the steering wheel when prompted when leaving a Blue Zone.
...
https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/feu/gb/en/news/2023/04/13/ford-brings-hands-free-driving-technology-to-motorways-in-great-.html
Ford becomes the first automaker to introduce “hands-off, eyes-on” advanced driver assistance technology approved for pre-mapped motorways in Great Britain
Drivers of 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles can activate subscription for top-rated system that has already enabled 64 million hands-free miles (102 million km) driven in the US and Canada
Safety of driver, passengers and other road users was central to development and approval; BlueCruise monitors traffic, speed signs and driver attentiveness for ultimate confidence
COLOGNE, Germany, April 13, 2023 – Ford today delivered a watershed moment with the introduction of a Level 2 hands-free advanced driver assistance system 1, 2 with regulatory approval for use on the motorway network in Great Britain – the first system of its kind approved in Europe.
Drivers of 193,000 BlueCruise-equipped Ford and Lincoln vehicles have already driven more than 64 million hands-free miles (102 million kilometres) in Canada and the US, where BlueCruise was also recently named the Consumer Reports Top Rated Active Driving Assistance System.
Now, a green light for Ford BlueCruise 2, 3 technology from the UK’s Department for Transport means drivers of enabled Mustang Mach-E models can use “hands-off, eyes-on” driving technology on 2,300 miles (3,700 km) of pre-mapped motorways in England, Scotland and Wales, 4 designated as Blue Zones.
BlueCruise takes the comfort and convenience benefits of advanced driver assistance to the next level. The system monitors road markings, speed signs and evolving traffic conditions to control steering, acceleration, braking and lane positioning, as well as to maintain safe and consistent distances to vehicles ahead – right down to a complete halt in traffic jams.
In addition, sophisticated infrared camera technology continually checks driver attentiveness for safety and confidence.
“It’s not every day that you can say you’ve placed one foot in the future, but Ford BlueCruise becoming the first hands-free driving system of its kind to receive approval for use in a European country is a significant step forward for our industry,” said Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model e, Europe. “Modern highways can be demanding even for the most confident drivers, and intimidating for many. BlueCruise can do some of the ‘heavy lifting’, to make highway driving less of a chore, and give drivers that little extra confidence and convenience.”
Owners of Ford Mustang Mach-E model year 2023 vehicles 5 in Great Britain are the first to be able to activate BlueCruise via subscription. 6 The first 90 days are included with the vehicle purchase and, thereafter, a £17.99 monthly subscription provides the flexibility to cover extended road trips and holidays, and enable the advanced driver assistance system around anticipated vehicle use.
JC, this Qualcomm patent takes two similar tracks, one where the "driver" is wearing a headset and another track without.
It uses the usual eye tracking and attention measurement, sickness and it will indicate risks not seen by the driver eg in HUD, in the worn display or in the vehicle.
I think it also tries to match the phone to what is seen by the Internal cameras and verifies using movement data. Probably so that the phone is aware that it is being used by a driver.
Needs a proper review on a screen, but looks good
Thanks Terry, I guess this is the same as or similar to a couple that came out in January where they add "remote Photoplethysmography" (clever phone saved me remembering how to spell), rPPG to its mates, identifies thr pulse my the minute blush that is seen on the skin as a periodic variation in colour with every surge of blood. Off the top of my head, don't know if that would be possible with IR only, or if it needs iR-RGB. Hopefully it is still detected as a brightness change in just IR so it works at night and is less susceptible to reflected light from outside.
The little "r" is for remote to differentiate it from the contact version in Smart Watches, fitness bands or the fingertip clamp sensors used now in healthcare (in my day, nurses had to count!)
Qualcomm legal have asked me to clarify that the chipset can support a level 2+ juggling robot within a defined ODD (Operational Design Domain) and that an attentive human will be required to ensure the safe operation. So it is mandatory to install the JMS from Seeing Machines
Size, you gotta understand that when Qualcomm goes to a trade show for embedded electronics it doesn't go with its Seeing Machines cap on.
The PR machine is there to sell SoC chips that are full of the latest tech. Multiple camera inputs, wifi graphics processing etc. That may fit well in tomorrow's cars but that market has already been one for that generation of chips. This shw is about selling the same chip into new markets that we or Qualcomm may not have considered. Multi camera mobile security, disco ball with a 20 spinning cameras. Or even no cameras at all, but WiFi connected games device?
So why show a DMS? Because it is a great way to interact and demonstrate to get people to your booth - "but it is just black an white."
"It works in the dark and even through dark glasses and can support 4 separate applications on different operating systems - what do you need it to do?".... "Juggling toy robot with 5 cameras? Hell yeah, just as long as your mechatronics flippers are fast enough, cameras and processing will be fine here...
As for the DMS demo, if it good enough for Terry.
Now back to the plans my new hovering disco ball with 12 cameras with integral ****tail dispenser
JC, not much in this Arriver application. It is a out how a black box "Driver Attention Monitor" will interface with the car systems and suppose even detect if it is being played by the driver (like repeatedly hitting the snooze button on an alarm without waking up!)
I know enough about SCADA, Factory Talk etc and how they are implemented in industry, to know that this is not a target area for Seeing Machines
Thanks JC, now I won't go into to much research on this one, but first an explainer...
In the early days of radio, you could identify the direction of a radio signal with a shaped antenna which you rotated to get the strongest signal.
Do this from 2 or more locations and you could triangulate to get a location.
Radar does send and receive, so the delay gives you the distance so only need one device.
From the 1980s there was enough computing power to use phase arrays, with multiple aerials to send and receive. Now you can measure the relative delay between individual aerials in the horizontal and also in vertical direction to determine the direction that the signal comes from. Now these are small enough that Qualcomm plan to put one on the steering wheel and another on the passenger side so they can determine with some degree of accuracy where a working phone (or other devices like a smart watch) are in the car.
It won't replace DMS though