Dashcams have come a long way from their earlier days, where they started off big and bulky, with low-quality sensors.
In those days (the early 1980s), dashcams were analog and didn’t have any memory card; everything was recorded on VHS cassettes. These earlier models weren’t even mounted on a car’s dashboards but rather held up by a tripod on the front of rear windows.
As the technology evolved, so did the dashboard camera, and it has become almost unrecognizable from what it was a few decades ago.
Today, modern dash cams are sophisticated, incorporating high-quality lenses and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for object recognition and deep learning.
AI-based dashcams have become very popular and a must-have tool in any vehicle. These dashcams have revolutionized the fleet industry in unprecedented ways and are poised to shape the future of the transportation industry. In this article, we’ll look into the reasons why AI-based dash cams are more needed than ever.
AI-dash cams are powering new fleet management innovations
The fleet industry is experiencing massive disruptions, thanks to the key technological innovations making waves in this industry.
From the internet of things (IoT) to vehicle telematics to artificial intelligence, the transportation industry has been on the receiving end of these technological innovations.
AI, for instance, has been instrumental in the development of next-gen dash cams that are changing the game for dispatch and drivers. These devices support 4G/5G and GPS, making real-time route monitoring and tracking possible over the cloud management portal.
With AI-based dash cams and IoT systems in place, dispatch managers can adjust and optimize routes based on real-traffic data. This, in turn, leads to efficiency in operations and significant cost savings for the operator.
AI dash cams improve driver monitoring
Human element accounts for a whopping 95% of auto accidents, according to a 2016 survey by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
With human error accounting for most road accidents, any technology that can mitigate accidents that result from human error would be in high demand. And this is one of the reasons why AI dash cams have been gaining traction over the years.
AI dash cams excel at improving driver monitoring. These dash cams come with advanced driver monitoring systems that feature state-of-the-art computing for live scene analysis and object detection, powered by AI-optimized processors.
Take Samsara AI-based dashcams, for example.
These modern dash cams take driver monitoring to the next level, thanks to the AI-powered engine and live scene analysis feature. These AI dash cams analyze the cab and the road for high-risk behavior, crashes, and extreme events. When high-risk behaviors, such as driving while on the phone, are detected, in-cab alerts warn the drivers so they can adjust behavior.
These dashcams also upload incidents to the cloud so the management can review the incident and take actions that will reduce accidents and save lives. If a pattern emerges from incidents, the cam’s deep learning algorithms can apply the documented solutions and coach the drivers with in-cab alerts and video-based coaching tools.
AI-based dash cams can enhance insurance cooperation
Fleet owners want to pay lower premiums, and insurance companies want fewer claims, but everyone wants fewer or no accidents.
Thanks to AI-based dash cams, it’s now possible to achieve all these goals through innovative practices that didn’t exist before. AI dash cams, like Samsara, can use algorithms to determine which drivers are reckless.
Fleet managers can then take decisive actions for the reckless drivers by firing them, requesting skills improvement through driver training, and more. They can then inform the insurance companies that steps have been taken to improve driving and reduce claims.
The fleet managers can then collaborate their claims by providing data-driven statistics that demonstrate the overall trends. No speed warnings, fewer driver distraction warnings, no abrupt turns, and consistent following distance can indicate improved driving habits—a sign of relief for the insurer.