Tobii & STMicroelectronics begin production of single-camera in-car sensing system
Tobii and STMicroelectronics have officially kicked off production of an advanced interior sensing system for a premium European automaker.
Why this collaboration?
The two firms are playing to their strengths. Tobii brings its expertise in attention-computing (mapping where people look, detecting driver state, etc.), while STMicro supplies robust imaging sensor hardware (its VD1940 sensor) with capabilities for both daylight and infrared (IR) capture. By combining forces, they can deliver a single-camera solution that handles both driver monitoring (DMS) and occupant/seat monitoring (OMS)—cutting cost, complexity, and installation constraints for automakers.
What is “in-car sensing”?
In-car (or in-cabin) sensing refers to the set of technologies embedded inside a vehicle to monitor what’s happening with the driver and passengers. This includes:
- Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS): detecting drowsiness, distraction, gaze direction, eyelid state, etc.
- Occupant Monitoring Systems (OMS): sensing whether seats are occupied, child presence, posture, behavior, etc.
- Context awareness & safety: using sensing data to trigger alerts, adjust airbags, tailor infotainment, and more.
These systems rely on cameras, infrared sensors, depth sensors, and AI/vision algorithms to interpret human behavior in a moving vehicle.
Key players in in-car sensing
Some major names shaping this space include:
- Seeing Machines (driver monitoring)
- Smart Eye
- EyeSight Technologies
- Valeo (automotive supplier integrating in-cabin sensing)
- Aptiv / Continental / Bosch / Denso (Tier-1s incorporating such modules)
- Tobii (for attention / gaze analytics)
- STMicroelectronics (sensor & imaging hardware)
Tobii already has design wins in over 160 vehicle models, across DMS and OMS. Meanwhile, ST positions its VD1940 sensor as part of its SafeSense imaging portfolio, tailored for automotive safety and in-cabin applications.
