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Slides
from Fall 2002
presentation (PDF)
(sponsors only)
Thesis:
An Advanced Driver Warning Framework Incorporating Educational Warnings
(sponsors only)
Experimental
Studies of Driver Cognitive Distraction Caused By Cell Phone Use
An Automobile-Integrated
System for Accessing and Reacting to Driver Cognitive Load
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300M IT Edition
A concept car that helps to cut down
on driver distractions (from cell phones, the radio, etc.)
| Who: |
From DaimlerChrysler: Steve Buckley, Media Lab liaison
From Motorola: Dan Williams, Media Lab liaison
From the Media Lab: Researchers from Prof.
Ted Selker's Context-Aware Computing, Prof.
Joe Paradiso's Responsive Environments and Prof.
Roz Picard's Affective Computing research groups
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| When: |
2002
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| Where: |
MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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| Why: |
Motorola was looking for ways to leverage its investment in the Media Lab. According to Dan Williams, Motorola wanted to "take collaborative initiative and see if there was a concept or process to support innovative research and create new value to the corporation."
DaimlerChrysler was interested in creating a product related to driver distraction and how to diminish it. Motorola had already undertaken a similar project with its cellphones.
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| How: |
At Motorola, the process included estimating resource requirements; securing funding; creating a research team at MIT; and creating a schedule and deliverable milestones.
After settling on an initiative that was relevant to all involved,
both companies signed a non-disclosure agreement and a mutual
statement of understanding, to protect their respective interests
and allow the project to move forward smoothly.
The solution chosen for driver distraction was, according to
Steve Buckley, situation monitoring—creating a "thing
that thinks" by tracking what the driver is doing in the
car and the state of the car (high speed, etc.), and responding
accordingly.
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Features of the car include
- Vehicle network link to on-board systems to monitor speed, throttle position, brake pressure, steering angle, etc.
- Multiple optical cameras to track driver's eye and head movements
- "Busy" and "Warning" aviation-inspired buttons/lamps
- Digital speed display only visible when using inside rearview mirror
- "Audio Spotlight" semi-private cellphone audio interface
- Hands-free cellphone that features call suppression during "busy" activity
- Multiple driver activity sensors (including grip force sensors) on the steering wheel, shift knob, arm rests, pedals, etc., to determine the position of the driver's hands, arms, and feet
- Ultrasonic sensors on the bumpers to determine the traffic situation
- Sensors in the cupholder and seats to detect objects and people
- Sensors and GPS to determine vehicle position, motion, and road quality
- Microphone to measure the level of passenger conversation and distraction
- Carbon monoxide detector to safeguard against CO-induced drowsiness
Buckley said that the formula for success on this project
included a cross-functional challenge that sparked faculty and student
interest (there was an overwhelming response from the students once the
car arrived). Also, Motorola and DaimlerChrysler offered no solutions
to the problem, so that they would hear a different perspective from the
Media Lab researchers. Buckley and Williams were frequently at the Lab
to collaborate with the researchers.
The results proved beneficial for both companies. The project gained high visibility at MIT and with sponsors. It has led to follow-up business discussions, research publications, and auto conference demonstrations.
Possibilities for the future
- Refining collaboration process;
- Identifying other projects;
- Tracking research results.
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