What is DMS?

The development of vehicle intelligence is placing increasing emphasis on the need for driver safety monitoring DMS. According to statistics, 90% of new cars will need to be equipped with ADAS systems in 10 years.

According to an analysis by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States, 95% of automobile traffic accidents in Europe and the United States are caused by human error. The National Transportation Safety Board of the United States recommends that all vehicles below LEVEL 2 be equipped with DMS.

EU regulations stipulate that new cars sold in the future must be equipped with driver fatigue and attention warning systems.

The European New Car Assessment Program announced that starting from 2020, vehicles that want to obtain a five-star safety certification must be equipped with DMS.

According to data released by the World Health Organization in 2021, approximately 1.3 million people die in road traffic accidents each year, 95% of which are caused by human error, such as speeding, fatigue, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. People expect autonomous driving systems to replace human drivers and reduce road accidents caused by human error. However, fully autonomous driving capabilities require approval from regulatory authorities in various countries and will not be widely introduced in private vehicles in the near future. Humans will still be required as primary operators, making in-vehicle monitoring systems essential.

What is DMS?

The Driver Monitoring System (DMS) uses a driver-facing infrared camera to monitor the driver's head, eyes, face, and other details in real time. It then uses this data for pattern recognition to determine fatigue or distraction. The DMS can detect driver fatigue, distraction, and unexpected situations where the driver is unable to drive, providing warnings and further connecting to the ADAS for vehicle control.

DMS main functions

DMS is typically installed on the steering wheel, instrument panel, or A-pillar. Its main functions include fatigue driver recognition and warning, distraction behavior recognition and warning, safety procedure recognition and warning, driver behavior management, and driver identity verification. It also alerts drivers of unusual behavior, such as smoking, making phone calls, and other dangerous behaviors.

By combining AI technology with high-precision vision, some manufacturers can also detect the driver's emotions and integrate with other components in the vehicle to provide corresponding reminders and improvements. For example, Toyota Boshoku unveiled the AceS concept cockpit at CES 2019, which features an emotion-sensing system. When the onboard computer determines that someone inside is in a bad mood, it can improve the mood by emitting fragrance and adjusting the ambient lighting. If the sensor detects that the driver is becoming drowsy, it will use music and vibration to help keep them awake. Overall, the DMS driver monitoring system is an advanced driver assistance technology designed to help increase driving safety and enhance driving comfort. Vehicle Camera with DMS Driver Status Detection

DMS system classification

According to the current DMS case analysis of various car models, DMS cameras are mainly located in positions such as headlights, A-pillars, and steering wheels.

DMS technology is divided into active technology and passive technology.

Passive: Based on vehicle information

[Monitoring Metrics] Steering wheel torque; Lane Departure Warning system driving data; Driving time

[Sensors] Pressure sensor; Steering wheel torque sensor

[Advantages] Low cost; Can utilize lower-level ADAS features

[Disadvantages] High false alarm rate; Lacks intelligence and cannot truly address safety hazards

Active: Based on biosensors

[Monitoring Indicators] Heart rate, blood pressure, galvanic skin response, skin temperature, brain waves, etc.

[Sensors] Pressure sensors, capacitive sensors, piezoelectric sensors

[Advantages] Suitable for all driving environments

[Disadvantages] Sensor placement issues and high cost

Active: Based on visual sensors

[Monitoring Metrics] Eye tracking, gaze detection, driver authentication

[Sensors] Monocular, binocular, infrared cameras

[Advantages] Low cost and relatively mature technology

[Disadvantages] Performance is affected by external factors, such as lighting.

The core functions of active DMS include fatigue detection, distraction detection, and risky behavior detection, including smoking, talking on the phone, eating, and so on.

When these behaviors are detected, the vehicle will provide feedback, such as sounds, voice commands, seat belt tightening, instrument clusters, and alarms.。

DMS system architecture

      The DMS system architecture primarily consists of image acquisition and image processing modules. The circuit principle is as follows: an image sensor captures image signals, outputs the captured images to a visual decoding circuit, and then analyzes them in an arithmetic unit to detect fatigue and distraction, ultimately outputting an alarm signal.