Guardian Optical Technologies, a company dedicated to enabling “passenger-aware” cars, announced today that it is demonstrating its sensor technology processing in-cabin data in real time on NVIDIA DRIVE™ during NVIDIA’s annual GPU Technology Conference (GTC) this week.

Guardian Optical Technologies enables car manufacturers to build “passenger-aware” cars with a single sensor that combines more than 15 applications in one. Some capabilities include passenger occupancy, forgotten items, forgotten passengers (e.g., a sleeping infant), and driver monitoring. Its complete in-cabin safety solution features Optical Cabin Control (OCC), which monitors driver alertness by measuring factors like eyelid closure, head position, hand position on the steering wheel, and whether the driver is holding a smartphone.

“Our in-cabin safety solution will enable more automakers to benefit from our powerful technology and create a safer experience for drivers and passengers,” says Gil Dotan, CEO of Guardian Optical Technologies. “We are watching AI transform the automotive industry as we know it – one that will be more intelligent and intuitive.”

The NVIDIA DRIVE platform integrates the high-performance, energy-efficient compute of the NVIDIA Xavier™ system-on-chip (SoC) and full stack AV software to monitor surroundings and the driver, localize to an HD map, and plan a safe path forward.

Within DRIVE software, NVIDIA DRIVE IX is a framework for the full cockpit experience. It brings together the system, tools and algorithms to enhance a driver’s situational awareness, assist in driving functions and provide intelligent and natural interaction between the vehicle and its occupants. Enabling intelligent driver monitoring to speech recognition and advanced augmented reality, DRIVE IX is an open platform supporting a wide range of ecosystem partner technologies designed to deliver a comprehensive set of optimized capabilities to OEMs, Tier 1s and development partners.

“Occupant detection sensors and algorithms are an important aspect of intelligent experiences in the vehicle,” said Danny Shapiro, senior director of automotive at NVIDIA. “Guardian’s innovative solution built on our open DRIVE IX SDK will allow carmakers to offer systems that detect and respond to situations like a baby or pet being left behind in a vehicle.”

Guardian Optical Technologies’ sensor provides 2D, 3D, and motion analysis to detect every moving object inside the vehicle, ensuring safety for all passengers. The sensor technology is available on the NVIDIA DRIVE IX software development kit, which enables car makers, technology partners and application developers to build intuitive and natural experiences for both drivers and passengers, using sensors inside and outside the car.

About Guardian Optical Technologies

Guardian Optical Technologies is dedicated to enabling “passenger-aware” cars, with cutting-edge sensor technology that makes cars safer and more convenient. Just one sensor combined with advanced 2D, 3D, and motion analysis protects drivers and passengers by constantly scanning and tracking occupants and objects anywhere in the vehicle. These technologies work with a car’s seatbelts and airbags to sound immediate alerts. The system deploys machine-learning, including image analysis on the sensor’s video feed, as well as “big data” analysis. Committed to providing high value to auto makers today, Guardian Optical Technologies designed its system to effortlessly support future advances in the auto industry, particularly autonomous vehicles. Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, the tech start-up was founded in 2015. It has won major accelerator competitions sponsored by EcoMotion and Microsoft, and has several patents pending, with other patent applications in progress. For more information, visit www.guardian-optech.com.