Harman Unveils AV Robot-to-Human Transition System
Harman has previewed a cabin monitoring system it claims can allow for “seamless” transition between robot and human drivers of a Level 3 autonomous vehicle.
The technology supplier says the system can “manag[e] the hand-over” that must take place when a Level 3 AV encounters driving conditions requiring human intervention. Harman says it does this by using sensors to record the human back-up driver’s “first-order biometric features”, including “eye gaze, head position, and pupil diameter”.
The company claims it can also capture data on vehicle occupants’ breathing patterns and “auditory content” in order to determine an AV’s “emotional activity and cognitive load”. The system is part of a suite of applications Harman is unveiling at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
These applications also include in-car communication (ICC), a system the company claims can allow occupants of a connected vehicle to communicate with each other at their preferred volume level. The system purportedly allows music and atmospheric noise to be adjusted to the occupants’ desired settings. Harman claims this can enable safer driving as it means the driver will not have to turn around to talk to back-seat passengers.
The company is also launching its Ignite 3.0 connected vehicle system, which claims “pre-integrat[ion]” with Samsung SmartThings, meaning the vehicle’s occupants can control ‘smart home’ devices like thermostats, doorbells, garage doors, and security systems whilst on the road. Ignite 3.0 also claims “enhanced navigation with point-of-interest (POI) search and intelligent personalization”.
Harman claims its new Remote Vehicle Updating Service will enable automakers to address and resolve cyber-security threats to their software supply chains more quickly. Chief technology officer Sanjay Dhawan says this can increase their “digital revenue”.
