Pairdriver is a collaborative steering system born from the idea
that driver and automation can work together as a team.
Trust is built on intuitive human-machine interaction which allows us
to confidently extend the automated driving domain.
We believe that continuous haptic communication
and assistance create the safest driving experience.
The automated driving system and the driver are seamlessly harmonized.
Pairdriver intelligently aligns the automated driving system with the driver's steering operation and enables continuous activation of automated driving. Simultaneously, the driver learns to trust the automation by intuitively sensing the system's intention through the steering wheel. Pairdriver supports the driver by providing guidance or resistance depending on the surrounding traffic and driver status.
All automated driving systems use sensors to perceive the external environment and plan a driving trajectory. Pairdriver uses the driver's steering to connect the driver back into the Planning and Control phase of the system. This allows us to customize the driving experience for any preference. Our adaptable modular software can be implemented without disrupting the upstream elements which makes Pairdriver a perfect match for both current systems and future updates.
Safe driving with confidence, anytime, anywhere.
By creating a system where the driving automation is activated from start to finish, traffic safety can be greatly improved. Our research indicates that keeping the driver engaged and connected is the safest path towards driving automation. However, current systems are not designed to accurately capture the driver's steering intentions and reflect them in the automated driving trajectory. As a result, mistrust and misuse are the greatest barriers to safe automated driving.
Our goal is to provide a safe car that anyone, young or old, can drive with confidence, anytime, anywhere. From the daily commute to long distance travels, teaming will make driving automation a pleasure.
In response to these issues, JTEKT decided to utilize our knowledge of steering control technology that has evolved over more than 40 years. Our team began research on a new system that goes beyond the conventional concept of steering control by focusing on haptic communication or the sensation of touch. This has led to the development of Pairdriver, a system in which driver and automation function seamlessly as one. The development team, assembled in the early days of automated driving technology, has been tirelessly working to improve and test the system to this day.
