Denso, FotoNation Team on Advanced Driver Monitoring Tech

Denso Corp is working with Xperi Corp.’s FotoNation unit on a next-generation image recognition system to better measure driver attentiveness and readiness to take control of a vehicle during autonomous driving operation.

Denso expects FotoNation’s facial recognition and neural network technologies to improve the capabilities and performance of the Japanese supplier’s driver status monitoring system. Accuracy will be enhanced by detecting more features than current systems, which primarily rely on the relative positions of the eyes, nose and mouth, according to the partners.

The technology is said to be impervious to light conditions and is designed to work even if a person is wearing sunglasses, mask or other facial coverings. New functions, such as detecting a driver’s gaze direction and facial expressions, also are planned.

Silicon Valley-based FotoNation says its image-recognition technology is used in about 25% of new smartphones worldwide. The technology also is used in digital cameras, drones and security cameras.

Denso’s driver status monitor has been used in heavy-duty trucks and buses since 2014. That system uses a camera and proprietary algorithm to analyze driver eye blinks.

A prototype of the next-generation system being developed with FotoNation will be demonstrated later this month at the Tokyo auto show.