The relationship between glance direction and eye tracking quality based on data from a long-term field study

Paper in proceedings, 2009

Automatic eye tracking is one feasible approach to assess driver state. The technique has matured considerably in recent years, and here automatic eye tracking is even used in a long-term field study. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a systematic relationship between gaze direction, head direction and the gaze quality. Gaze and head direction data was acquired with a two camera SmartEye Pro system from seven drivers who drove an instrumented vehicle for one month each. It was found that the quality of the tracking is best when the driver’s gaze is directed at the road centre. Intermediate eye tracking quality was measured for glances to the rear view mirrors and the middle console.The head is generally not moved as much as the eyes and head direction data is more concentrated to the centre region as compared to eye gaze. If gazes to areas like the middle console need to be tracked well, camera position has to be adapted.