Seeing Machines Limited, the tech company that designs AI-powered operator monitoring systems to improve transport safety, has signed an agreement to supply additional Guardian Backup-driver Monitoring Systems (BdMS) to a leading North American self-driving car company.
The agreement, valued at around USD1.2 million, will see Guardian BdMS deployed into the autonomous mobility company’s test vehicles as they seek to expand across new sites and locations.
Advancing autonomous vehicles requires extensive on-road data collection, testing and validation. To mitigate the risks of operating test vehicles on public roads, a backup driver is typically required during this development phase. Seeing Machines’ BdMS supports the human backup driver in remaining vigilant during on-road operations.
The integration of self-driving technology into the ride-hailing industry marks a transformative shift in urban transportation. Autonomous mobility services promise greater efficiency, reduced operational costs, and improved accessibility for passengers, particularly in densely populated cityscapes. Moreover, these advanced systems ensure high levels of safety by minimising human error, which is traditionally a leading cause of accidents.
Seeing Machines is playing a pivotal role in this evolution, with its Guardian BdMS serving as an essential technology to monitor and support backup drivers during these initial deployment phases. This technology bridges the gap between fully autonomous operations and human oversight, ensuring reliability and trust in autonomous ride-hailing fleets.
“We are proud to continue working with this important customer, who shares our passion for road safety, as they continue to develop their technology and, frankly, lead the evolution of the autonomous vehicle landscape,” said Seeing Machines CEO Paul McGlone.
“Around the world, regulators and automakers understand that driver and occupant monitoring technology will bridge the gap between the vehicles of today, where the driver is still in control, and the fully autonomous cars of tomorrow,” he added. “It’s excellent to see our technology, designed purely to keep road users safe, helping to shape this shift in transportation.”
