Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has announced it has developed a technology to detect absent-mindedness and other cognitive distractions in drivers when their vehicles are traveling straight, using a type of machine-learning algorithm known as deep learning. The company believes this is a first in the automotive industry.

Although systems exist to detect drivers who are visually distracted due to drowsiness or inattentiveness, the detection of cognitive distractions has been difficult because symptoms sometimes appear in a driver’s behavior or biological patterns, rather than in their face or eye movements. Mitsubishi Electric said its new technology uses a machine-learning algorithm to analyze time-series data, including information about the vehicle (steering, etc.) and driver (heart rate, facial orientation, etc.), to detect and warn drivers about potentially dangerous indications.

The machine-learning algorithm uses a combination of data on “normal driving” and time-series data on the actual vehicle and driver to predict appropriate driver actions in real time. The technology detects cognitive distractions if the driver’s actions differ drastically from the algorithm-based prediction of what would be appropriate. If a distraction is detected, the driver is alerted immediately about their potentially dangerous driving, according to the company.

Deep learning enables machines to use both forward- and backward-moving time-series data, which helps to reduce errors in predicting driver actions by 66 percent compared to Mitsubishi Electric’s conventional algorithm, a so-called three-layer neural network, according to the company.

The technology is currently being displayed at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015 until November 8.

Technologies for detecting cognitively and visually distracted driving are expected to be installed in driver sensing units sold commercially from around 2019 or beyond, according to the company.