Ford Estimating Driver Workload to Decrease Distraction

FordFordUnited States of America, 1903 > present92 models
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is beginning to pack its cars with technology with Sync and MyFord Touch. Now it is working on decreasing the distraction that those systems cause by monitoring drivers and deciding when they do not need notifications. 

Ford calls the system Driver Workload Estimator, and it monitors control inputs, sensors and the driver’s biometric data to decide when a driver is too busy to receive inputs from the infotainment systems. The system incorporates new technologies like a biometric seat and steering wheel that monitors the driver, especially their heart rate. Infrared sensors monitor the driver's temperature. A sensor in the seat belt monitors breathing. All of the driver data is integrated with the vehicle data to make decisions. 

For instance, if the system realizes that you are in heavy traffic, and there is a car in your blind spot, then it will not notify you of phone cars or other info. 

“While these features are still in research, they show significant opportunity for us to leverage data already being captured by the vehicle and apply an intelligent decision-making system to simplify the driving experience,” said Gary Strumolo, head of infotronics at Ford Research.