Improving driving using human voice warnings

The eFlash SF is a driver warning device, which includes 6 icons and LED lighting which is attached to the dashboard. The device uses flashing icons to warn the driver of dangerous behaviour or driving patterns such as sudden acceleration, forceful breaking and sharp turns. In addition, eFlash SF includes a button that can serve as a panic button.

International automotive technology provider ERM Advanced Telematics, is launching two new products aimed at improving driving quality with the use of human voice warnings and visual signals to the driver. The development of the two products, eVoice and eFlash SF, was completed, and both are now being implemented by a number of clients and are available to partners and customers in the 68 countries where ERM is active.

The main target markets for the products are car fleets, automakers and auto importers. The eVoice and eFlash SF join the company’s mature eSafe product for identifying and analysing driver behaviour. The latest products represent expansion of the existing solutions for safety and communications solutions launched by ERM in recent years for connected vehicles.

The eVoice product is based on a speaker installed in a vehicle that utilises a processor and a memory chip for supplying the driver with human voice warnings designed to help him or her identify dangerous decisions they made, while driving. This service enables personalised learning by the driver with the aim of improving habits and behaviour while driving.

The device allows a fleet manager or the operator of the platform to record in advance up to 100 warnings in the mother tongue of the driver that are adapted to various dangerous patterns on the road or based on various situations of the vehicle, and to define with a user-friendly software program which warning will be played for each type of event.

For example, if a driver made a sharp turn for example, a warning would be sounded to explain the incorrect behaviour. In the event the driver went over the speed limit on a specific section of the road, he would receive a voice warning as would be the case with other unsafe driving events.

eVoice is capable of issuing a human voice warning upon identifying any unusual event of the type that can also be identified by a wide range of the company’s products, based on StartLink technology. It can also identify any unusual event of the type that can be detected by ERM Advanced Telematics’ add-on products like eSafe or eData. eSafe is used for identifying and analysing a driver’s behaviour, while eData provides an interface for vehicle communications channels like CAN Bus and On Board Diagnostics (OBD).

Among other features, eVoice can also warn of unusual events related to the vehicle’s mechanical condition such as engine problems or overheating as well as a wide range of extreme events that are identified by the eData interface based on CAN Bus data. eVoice customers can record in advance warnings in their own voice for each device or alternatively type a text message and convert it to voice using the text-to-speech capabilities which are also offered by eVoice.

The eFlash SF product serves as a warning system for the driver and includes six icons with LED lighting installed on the dashboard. It warns the driver, through the use of flashing icons and a series of beeps, of various situations that he or she needs to be informed of or require attention. For example, icons can be defined for problematic behaviour such as dangerous manoeuvring, accelerations, excessive breaking and sharp turns.

In addition, the fleet manager, the automaker or the operator of the system can define in advance actions for which visual warnings using lighting and icons can be given. These could include sections of roads with speed limits, speed cameras, holes in the road, dangerous intersections, designated areas for cargo collection, bus stops etc.

The eFlash SF even has push buttons that allow changes and adjustments to be made to the warning buttons and lighting of the system as deemed necessary. One button can be designated as an emergency or danger signal, in the event the driver needs immediate assistance due to a vehicle malfunction or an extreme situation like an accident. Pressing on this button can enable the driver to be connected directly to an emergency centre and initiate a communications channel with a service centre.

Additional options can be defined such as speed dialling, in case of using a voice enabled device, or an identification code for the driver. ERM’s modular solutions support the use of one or the two products eFlash SF and eVoice, simultaneously, in order to give the warning even greater significance by use of both the flashing of the LED lighting and the voice warning capabilities of the two systems.

Eitan Kirshenboim, CMO at ERM Advanced Telematics, stated: "The ability of eVoice to supply warnings using a human voice for teaching correct driving habits is unique in the market. The combination of eVoice and eFlash SF offers the driver a complementary array of voice and visual warnings that maximise the chance of responsible and safe driving.

“ERM is aiming to create competitive advantages for our partners and customers in markets where they operate, by taking advantage of various technologies and present innovative solutions to prevent accidents, advance safe driving and to improve the operating arrays of auto fleets and organisations alike. We are constantly expanding our modular product line and supplying new and up to date technological solutions in order to meet market demands as well as those of our partners. The launching of the newest solutions represents an important step forward towards achieving this very important goal.”