Vehicle Cockpit Concept Allows Drivers to Operate Controls through Eye Movement

Visteon Corporation (NYSE: VC) recently unveiled an automotive cockpit concept demonstrating how drivers can select certain controls through eye movement and head direction. Hidden eye-tracking cameras capture this data to deliver an advanced human-machine interaction (HMI).

This concept has received interest from auto manufacturers and has also impressed vehicle owners. Prior to the final build of the concept, Visteon presented an early version to consumers at a research clinic, where 81 percent of respondents felt that the system was easy to operate and 78 percent found it enjoyable to use.

“Visteon continually introduces working prototypes that utilize advancements in technologies traditionally found outside of the automotive space,” said Martin T. Thall, president, Visteon Electronics. “We want to spark creative dialogue with our customers that can result in new automotive solutions to improve the driving experience.”

The objective of the HMeye cockpit concept was to develop an HMI control solution that enabled drivers to keep their hands on the wheel, potentially mitigating distraction. Vehicle controls such as the radio, cabin temperature and navigation all can be operated through the drivers’ eyes.

“The eye gaze feature and steering wheel controls provide fast response time,” said Paul Morris, innovation manager at Visteon. “This has the potential to improve safety by minimizing the driver’s eye movement away from the road and keeping his or her hands on the wheel.”

“Advancements in camera technology, along with size reduction, have allowed the automotive industry to incorporate camera capabilities for in-vehicle applications at a reasonable cost,” Morris added. “This system showcases technologies that may lead the movement toward autonomous driving.”

A video of the HMeye cockpit concept is available on youtube/8D6spLLJYPw

A high-resolution image and a video are available at www.visteon.com/media/multimedia.

Read a blog from Innovation Manager Paul Morris about the HMeye cockpit concept system at http://blog.visteon.com/2014_06_01_archive.html

The HMeye cockpit demonstrates technologies from Visteon’s electronics business, which delivers innovative in-vehicle user experiences through solutions in user interfaces, connectivity and open architectures. 

About Visteon

Visteon is a global automotive supplier delivering value for vehicle manufacturers and shareholders through two high-growth core businesses: automotive cockpit electronics and thermal management. Visteon owns 70 percent of Halla Visteon Climate Control Corp., the world’s second largest provider of vehicle thermal management solutions. Visteon designs, engineers and manufactures innovative components and systems for virtually every vehicle manufacturer worldwide. With corporate offices in Van Buren Township, Mich. (U.S.); Shanghai, China; and Chelmsford, UK; Visteon has facilities in 31 countries and employs about 29,000 people. Visteon had sales of $7.4 billion in 2013. Learn more at www.visteon.com.