NXP and Momenta are teaming up to develop commercial-grade Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) that can be mass produced for future generations of cars. The joint solution will combine NXP’s S32V2 Open Vision Platform with Momenta’s deep learning automotive software.

The new Driver Monitoring System will boost road safety by monitoring the status of people in the car. If the driver seems tired or takes their eyes off the road for any reason, the system can issue a warning that could prevent a possible collision.

The two companies are anticipating a booming market for DMS tech in the next few years, driven in large part by new safety requirements that will be set in place as part of the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Euro NCAP has indicated that the systems will be part of the standard safety evaluation for new cars beginning in 2020.  

NXP has been making inroads in the smart car market in the past few years, previously partnering with AliOS to develop components for the Chinese market. Driver monitoring systems – especially those with biometric capabilities – are becoming increasingly popular in modern cars thanks to their utility in collision prevention. The Subaru Forester was recently named as one of the Best Family Cars thanks in large part to its Driver Assist safety feature.