INNOVATE
In the driver’s seat
Mazda’s unique personalization system ensures everyone can enjoy the perfect driving position.
The optimum positioning of the driver has always been a key component in any Mazda vehicle’s development. However, Mazda researchers recently discovered that less than half of drivers position themselves correctly for comfort, safety, and control. The solution? Using cutting-edge facial-recognition technology, Mazda will be able to deliver tailored recommendations to maximize both comfort and safety in its vehicles in the future.
Following Mazda’s human-centric philosophy, which considers every touchpoint in the car from the shape and action of door handles to the feel of the switchgear, the next step was to ensure that drivers are always seated correctly.
Nobuaki Tabata, Program Manager in the Integrated Control System Development Division, and his team discovered that most drivers were not aware of how to achieve the best driving position for themselves. “We found that people did not know how to adjust the driving seat position to achieve optimum levels of comfort. In fact, we have research data that states only 40 percent of drivers are seated correctly,” he says.
To solve this problem, Mazda developed a system that recognizes each driver and automatically configures the position of the seat, steering wheel, mirrors, and head-up display for optimum comfort and safety.
The system uses a camera facing the driver to enable physique-estimation technology. After the driver has entered their height manually with the commander control (this only needs to be done on the first setup), the system then calculates and offers the best placement for that person based upon the position of their eyes. Of course, the driver can override and modify the position if they want to.
And when the driver switches off the engine and releases the seat-belt buckle, the seat and steering wheel automatically reset and activate to let them get out of the car more easily.
“Roughly speaking, there are more than 250 personalization items prepared for this car using the facial-recognition system.”
Nobuaki Tabata
“We developed this function using a vast amount of data,” explains Tabata. “Once facial recognition has identified the driver, the system based on our physique estimation can suggest how the seating position should be adjusted. It’s like coaching the driver based on the experience of the manufacturer.”
And setting the perfect driving position is just the beginning. “Roughly speaking, there will be more than 250 personalization items using the facial-recognition system,” Tabata continues. “Other examples include the individual adjustments of sound, the volume of safety alerts, and the ambient lighting, which can be tuned and adjusted for specific drivers.”
With this ingenious facial-recognition technology, Mazda is seeking to reduce driver stress before the journey has even begun. In doing so, driving a Mazda will not only be safer but also more relaxing and entertaining for everyone, with driver and passengers alike enjoying increased peace of mind.
Words Nik Berg
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