Seeing Machines Limited (LON:SEE) is teaming up with US chipmaker and telecoms firm Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM) to develop driver monitoring systems (DMS) for the world’s automakers.
The AIM-listed tech firm said the two companies will be focusing specifically on in-vehicle infotainment systems, areas of the car which allow the driver or passengers to control functions such as music, navigation or answering phone calls, usually through a touchscreen.
READ: Seeing Machines optimises driver monitoring system for new European guidelines
Seeing Machines said infotainment is emerging as “a critical integration point” for incorporating DMS into vehicles, and that it will be working to optimise its technology for a variant of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform designed for self-driving cars.
The two firms are currently working on an optimised DMS solution for a global premium automaker, Seeing Machines said, adding that the technology is scalable across different cockpit systems allowing it to be used more broadly across the industry.
"As the requirement for DMS technology becomes more commonplace and [original equipment manufacturers] roll it across more of their vehicle portfolio to address global regulatory requirements such as Euro NCAP, it is very important that Seeing Machines executes on robust solutions while providing system level integration options for OEMs”, said Nick DiFiore, the company’s senior vice president of Automotive.
“We are delighted to be working with Qualcomm Technologies to deliver this optimized, cost-effective, infotainment integrated solution to our joint OEM customers", he added.
Shares in Seeing Machines were 2.4% higher at 5.3p in early deals on Thursday.
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