Road safety is closely connected to everyone’s daily life and has increasingly become a key focus on technological applications in recent years. Supported by the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Institute for Information Industry’s (III) Software Technology Institute has developed the “VisionSafe: Pioneering a New Era of Smart Cockpits for Commercial Vehicles,” a comprehensive protection system that has been honored with the prestigious R&D 100 Awards—often referred to as the “Oscars of Innovation.” This achievement marks Taiwan’s first smart safety cockpit system designed specifically for large commercial vehicles to receive this international accolade.
‘VisionSafe’ Overcomes Mixed-Traffic Challenges with Five Integrated Innovations, Addressing Human Driving Limitations
With long-term support from the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the “VisionSafe” has demonstrated the government’s commitment and foresight in advancing industrial upgrading and transformation—from core technology development to real-world deployment and validation. In Taiwan’s complex traffic environment, where large commercial vehicles share the road with motorcycles, scooters, and pedestrians, safety risks have grown increasingly severe. The system was developed precisely to address these challenges, aiming to significantly reduce accidents caused by factors such as blind spots, inner-tire blind spots, adverse weather conditions, and driver fatigue or distraction, etc.
The award-winning system integrates five key technological innovations, using AI and advanced sensing technologies to comprehensively address the inherent limitations of human drivers. Equipped with an AI-powered thermal imaging all-weather sensing module, the system can accurately detect pedestrians and obstacles with up to 96% accuracy—even in low light, glare, heavy rain, or fog—effectively eliminating visual blind spots. In addition, its AI full-posture driver behavior monitoring function surpasses traditional Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS), which typically focus only on the face and eyes. By leveraging existing in-cab surveillance equipment in large commercial vehicles and detecting full-body movements through side-view cameras, the system can precisely identify 10 high-risk behaviors, such as using a mobile phone, failing to hold the steering wheel, or bending down to pick up objects, significantly reducing accidents caused by driver distraction.
To address the critical issue of inner-tire blind spot, the most dangerous challenge for large commercial vehicles, the “VisionSafe” incorporates AI-powered inner-tire blind spot alerts and automatic emergency braking, enabling rapid detection of potential hazards and issuing warnings within just 0.1 seconds. The system also features an eye-tracking AR-HUD display, projecting key navigation and safety alerts directly into the driver’s line of sight through augmented reality. By dynamically adjusting the display based on the driver’s gaze, it significantly reduces the need for head movement, enhancing driving focus and safety.
Notably, the system’s modular, plug-and-play architecture offers high compatibility and lightweight deployment, allowing seamless integration into existing fleets while minimizing upgrade costs and installation time for transportation operators. The system has already been adopted in collaboration with industry partners—including chipmaker Kneron and system equipment providers—and has been deployed in public bus fleets for real-world validation. By assisting operators in enhancing road safety, the system is expected to reduce traffic incidents in Taiwan and enhance safety for all road users.
Dr. I-Heng Meng, Senior Vice President and Director General of the Software Technology Institute at the Institute for Information Industry (III), stated that this award not only affirms III’s strong R&D capabilities but also reflects its commitment to leveraging technology for social good and empowering Taiwan’s information service providers to create value-driven industry chains. He emphasized that the recognition further highlights Taiwan’s leading global position in the field of smart transportation. Looking ahead, III will continue to integrate resources across industry, academia, and research sectors, deepen technological development and application, and bring Taiwan’s innovative achievements to the international market—contributing to a safer and smarter global mobility and communications environment.