DRIVSCO learns driver behaviour

A computer system that allows vehicles to learn from the behaviour of drivers at the wheel could help detect unusual behaviour and prevent accidents.

The system, called DRIVSCO, was developed by researchers from six European countries.

Their concept gives cars the ability to obtain a behaviour pattern of the driver as he or she faces a curve or approaches an intersection, pedestrian or another vehicle.

For example, during night driving, if the vehicle system detects a deviation in the way a driver faces a curve, it will interpret it is due to the lack of visibility and then generate signals of alarm to warn the driver.

DRIVSCO works using a system of artificial vision developed on a single chip by researchers at the University of Granada. The device receives input pictures and produces a first 'interpretation of the scenario' by combining information on depth (using 3D vision), local movement and image lines.

According to its developers, DRIVSCO can be assembled for various types of vehicles. The team has also developed DRIVSCO with reconfigurable hardware so that it can adapt itself to a variety of field applications.

The system has gone through preliminary tests with drivers. Each driver was provided a car with GPS and wheel-turn and braking detection systems so that the research team could check in great detail the style of driving in every case and the performance of the system.

The DRIVSCO team claims the first tests have offered promising results and have proved the usefulness of the new concept.

Project leader Eduardo Ros Vidal, from the University of Granada, said he does not see a future for vehicles that can drive autonomously, but he does believe advanced driving systems such as DRIVSCO can help prevent car accidents and contribute to keeping drivers alert and focusing their attention to the maximum.

Other members of the DRIVSCO collaboration include scientists at Germany's University of Göttingen, University of Münster and the company Hella & Hueck, Denmark's University of Southern Denmark, Lithuania's University Vytautas Magnus, Belgium's Catholic University of Leuven and Italy's University of Geneva.