Mindtronic AI Recognized by CES Innovation Awards with Its Industry-leading AI Technology for Three Years in A Row
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas has long been a bellwether of technology trends. In CES 2020, Mindtronic AI (MAI), a Taiwan-based start-up, is honored once again by the CES Innovation Awards for its AI-driven automotive solutions. The achievements from this start-up are especially remarkable in the ultra-competitive sector of smart vehicles. Their success lies in a team of professionals, who are motivated by a pragmatic attitude and passion for innovation.
With its Driver Monitoring System (DMS) taking home yet another award at CES 2020, MAI never stops introducing new features for driving safety. Their phenomenal Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Human Machine Interface (HMI) have won the favor of CES judges to bag awards for consecutive years.
Using AI to Make Driving Safer: MAI Gets CES Stamp of Approval
“Our AI technology can make driving safer and create a better driving experience,” explained Sharon Jiang, CEO of MAI, in her sciency manner of listing examples to help us understand their award-winning innovative technologies at CES 2020. “For ADAS, MAI’s AI-based deep learning can determine the current status of the driver and automatically switch to autonomous driving. For example, if it identifies dangerous behaviors from the driver, such as showing signs of fatigue and dozing off or leaning down to pick up something, autonomous driving kicks in to avoid accidents and ensure safety.”
MAI’s other award-winning technology HMI uses AI to integrate and analyze the In-Vehicle Infotainment system to simplify the menu interface. The feature-packed infotainment system, like GPS and multimedia playback, can be tricky to navigate at times. This is where MAI’s technology comes in to make it more intuitive and user-friendly, reducing driving danger caused by distractions.
Battle-tested Technical Strength in Software and Hardware Technology Leave Competitors Behind
The field of intelligent driving is never short of competition. Many electro-mechanical players and heavyweight automotive manufacturers participating in CES also have similar innovative technologies, but MAI is able to stand out from the crowd thanks to the market-readiness of their offerings. While most of their competitor’s technologies are still being lab-tested, MAI are already rolling out fully-fledged integrated software and hardware system for vehicles. They are ahead of other competitors by about 1 to 2 years.
Jiang points out that compared to other R&D labs that are more academically-driven, MAI takes a more pragmatic approach by aiming at market-readiness for all of its technology. On top of that, the cohesive teamwork allows the smooth harmonization of AI, hardware and vehicle integration. When others are still trying to bring the technology out of the laboratory, MAI has already put AI in cars. “AI technology is only valuable when it is commercially viable. MAI tackles this by collaborating with automakers, so we can get feedback from customers as nutrients for growth and glean insights into the latest market trends. The establishment of such a virtuous circle makes our intelligent system more and more powerful, which in turn helps us gain more market recognition.”
Branching Out to AI in Cars Due to Personal Interest & Building a Team to Create the Safest Smart Vehicles
Talking about why MAI decided to develop AI technology for smart vehicles, Jiang said it’s because she likes to drive with a sheepish grin. She especially likes to get behind the wheels when it’s raining—closing the door after getting inside the car gives her a sense of security in her own space. The carefree feeling of turning the steering wheel to get to her next destination indirectly nudged her into the field of AI in cars. She met a group of like-minded partners and began her entrepreneurial journey that’s about to transform the world.
Having been recognized by the CES Innovation Awards for three consecutive years, MAI is now working with top auto manufacturers in Europe and the United States to integrate its solutions into their smart vehicles. In Taiwan, there are mass transit operators adopting MAI’s DMS solutions to monitor driver status to improve driving safety and service quality.
MAI receives a lot of feedback from these world-class manufacturers. Jiang notes that their opinions are sometimes affirmation of MAI’s technology. After evaluating various AI systems, many auto manufacturers have reported that MAI’s DMS has a lower false positive rate than its competitors, and this acts as a significant driving force for the team’s continuous research and development.
Facing competitions from other large international manufacturers, Jiang admits that the size of MAI presents challenges in operation. Although it has won awards in many international trade shows, it still has to work on getting more resources and talents. “MAI at this stage may not be as well-known as some of the big international players, but our achievements are testament that we are heading in the right direction and our offerings are in line with market needs.”
Some people are saying AI technology is losing its charm, but in the field of smart driving, AI is only just scratching the surface. The European Union is now including DMS as part of a five-star safety equipment of automobiles, meaning it will be an essential technology for safe driving around the world. Jiang is optimistic about the future: “First, we’ll make a name in smart cars. In the future, MAI can expand its reach to applying AI in manufacturing, retail and many others.”
