We are all familiar with vehicle tracking systems. They have been used for many years now and the technology behind them continues to get more and more impressive.GPS vehicle tracking can provide a number of services. Many motorists use it because it helps them to find given locations.
Also, it can be used to monitor the whereabouts of fleets of vehicles, which can be particularly beneficial for firms.
However, new advances mean that as well as having vehicle tracking systems that monitor cars, buses, lorries and other such things, it will be possible for vehicles – using tracking technology themselves – to keep track of people.
In a bid to tackle driver drowsiness, which is a well-known cause of accidents on the roads, researchers at the Institute for Digital Media Technology (IDMT) in Germany have developed an assistant system that monitors a driver’s eye movements.
If there is cause for concern, it issues a warning so the individual does not fall asleep.
Commenting on the developments, Professor Husar of the IDMT said: “What we have developed is a small modular system with its own hardware and programs on board, so that the line of vision is computed directly within the camera itself.
“Since the Eyetracker is fitted with at least two cameras that record images stereoscopically – meaning in three dimensions – the system can easily identify the spatial position of the pupil and the line of vision.”
Indeed, it is not only GPS vehicle tracking and eye monitoring that are being developed and becoming more advanced.
Researchers are also working on cars that have the ability to drive themselves and initial tests in the United States have been successful.
However, in order to ensure the safety of the trials, a two-man team was present in the cars as they completed their journeys.