EN
City driving after dark comes with a unique set of demands.
Headlights, screens, and glowing instrument panels can quickly become distractions. Add unfamiliar streets and the pressure of making decisions – like where to stop for dinner – and even a short drive can become mentally taxing.
In this scenario, visualized in Smart Eye’s in-house simulator, we follow a senior driver navigating the city at night in search of a restaurant.
As the journey unfolds, Smart Eye’s interior sensing technology works in the background to minimize distractions, detect moments of inattention, and even respond to signs of a potential medical emergency.
Instrument panels are meant to keep drivers informed. But at night, constant backlighting can do more harm than good. To reduce visual clutter, the display in this scenario only lights up when the driver looks at it, then dims again once their gaze moves away.
This simple interaction keeps key information available without adding unnecessary brightness to the cabin. It’s a subtle but effective way to support focus and reduce distraction on nighttime drives.
While scanning restaurant options on the infotainment screen, the driver doesn’t notice a pedestrian suddenly crossing in front of the car. Thankfully, the car does.
By combining gaze tracking with exterior object detection, the car can recognize that the driver hasn’t seen the person ahead, and react accordingly.
It’s this connection between what’s happening inside the vehicle and what’s unfolding outside that makes the difference.
Instead of relying on predefined triggers or assumptions, the system responds based on context: what the driver is focused on, and what they’re not. In moments where a second of inattention could have serious consequences, that awareness matters.
Partway through the drive, the driver suddenly slumps forward – completely unresponsive.
Sheila, the in-cabin AI assistant, detects the sudden change and reacts immediately. She offers to contact emergency services and begins gathering crucial details: the vehicle’s location, how many people are in the car, their age group, and whether they’re wearing seatbelts.
This kind of fast, informed response is made possible by interior sensing. By monitoring head position, seatbelt use, and other cues, the system can recognize when something is seriously wrong, without waiting for the driver to ask for help.
In this case, the situation turns out to be a false alarm. But in a real emergency, this automatic response could help first responders reach the scene faster and arrive better prepared.
Curious about how interior sensing is changing the way we interact with our cars? Get a closer look at the technology behind Smart Eye’s solutions in our Interior Sensing eBook.
