Affectiva Secures Six Patents for AI-Driven Analysis of Vehicle Occupants

Face Recognition, Machine Learning: Affectiva Receives Six New Patents for AI Analysis of Vehicle Occupants

AI pioneer Affectiva has been awarded six patents for its technology that detects the awareness and emotions of people within vehicles. Affectiva Automotive AI utilizes deep learning integrated with computer vision and in-vehicle cameras to assess the states of drivers and passengers in real-time.

Co-Founder and CEO of Affectiva, Dr. Rana el Kaliouby, stated, “Over the last decade, we have relentlessly pursued new patents as we pioneered and advanced the fields of Emotion AI and Human Perception AI. The extensive scope of our patent portfolio showcases our commitment to advancing the boundaries of computer vision, machine learning, deep learning, and edge AI. This reflects our leadership in defining innovative and diverse applications of Human Perception AI that are influencing industries both now and in the future.”

The primary advantage of this technology is enhanced safety. By detecting drowsiness or distractions, lives could potentially be saved. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), human error and environmental factors are pivotal in causing accidents, with human error accounting for around 95% of incidents.

Affectiva’s technology serves more purposes than just safety. Understanding the emotions and perceptions of vehicle occupants can enhance their experience through improved infotainment systems.

The Six Patents Awarded to Affectiva Include:

• Drowsiness Mental State Analysis Using Blink Rate (US Patent No. 10867197): This analyzes blink rates to determine drowsiness, mental fatigue, attention, and cognitive load. This data can manipulate vehicle operation, such as recommending breaks or adjusting the in-cabin environment.
• Cognitive State Evaluation For Vehicle Navigation (US Patent No. 10922566): This influences vehicle control by assessing occupants’ cognitive states through multi-modal sensing, useful for semi-autonomous vehicles.
• Cognitive State-Based Vehicle Manipulation Using Near-Infrared Image Processing (US Patent No. 10922567): This utilizes near-infrared images from in-vehicle cameras processed by deep neural networks, making it effective in low-light conditions.
• Vehicle Content Recommendation Via Affect (US Patent No. 10911829): This patent suggests infotainment content based on occupants’ emotional states, enhancing their transportation experience.
• Vehicle Content Recommendation Using Cognitive States (US Patent No. 10897650): Similar to the previous patent but based on cognitive states assessed from multiple vehicle sensors.
• Image Analysis for Emotional Metric Evaluation (US Patent No. 10869626): This gathers emotional responses from individuals towards content consumed on mobile devices and inside vehicles, enabling tracking of emotional well-being.

With the recent additions, Affectiva now holds a total of 39 patents, with more than 25 others still awaiting approval. Dr. Kaliouby emphasized, “These patents signify our innovative mindset and highlight the incredible diversity of ideas fostered by our team. We take pride in these advancements and the value they bring to our company, shareholders, and the broader industry as we collaboratively shape the future of Human Perception AI in automotive and beyond.”

AI News has recognized Affectiva as one of its innovative companies.