News Release：Pioneer Develops Drowsiness Detection Unit of a Driver

Since November 2015, Pioneer China Holding Co., Ltd. (“Pioneer China”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer Corporation, has been pursuing the development of next-generation in-vehicle equipment incorporating advanced driving assistance functions with Suzhou Tsingtech Microvision Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. (“Tsingtech Microvision,” hereafter), a venture company established under the Tsinghua University Suzhou Automotive Research Institute.

Pioneer China have developed a Drowsiness Detection Unit capable of high-accuracy detecting sleepiness of a driver, using the technologies of Tsingtech Microvision.

Recently, automobile accidents are caused by drivers feeling fatigued or dozing off. The unit combines unique image recognition technologies and a drowsiness detection algorithm of Tsingtech Microvision, and our technologies concerning development of high-quality hardware, and objectively quantifies driver status to detect drowsiness with high accuracy. By integrating the unit with various existing solutions and systems, it will be possible to develop advanced driver assistance systems that lower the risk of accidents, such as monitoring driver status in real time to manage systems and issue warnings. Furthermore, utilization for in-cabin sensing applications that will become important in automated driving vehicles in the future are also being considered.

Features of the Drowsiness Detection Unit

• High-accuracy drowsiness detection, utilizing unique image recognition technologies and analysis by a drowsiness detection algorithm considering the state of steering control
• High quality required as an in-vehicle equipment
• Integration with existing solutions and systems is possible

Pioneer will continue to pursue the development of a wide range of advanced driver assistance systems functions forward to realize a reliable and safe driving.

Also note that the drowsiness detection unit will be on display at the Pioneer booth at CES-ASIA, which will be held from May 11, 2016 in Shanghai, China.