Seeing Machines

About Seeing Machines

Founded in 2000 as a spin-out from the Australian National University, Seeing Machines is a public company that develops AI-powered operator monitoring systems designed to enhance transport safety. The company was established by Timothy Edwards, Sebastien Rougeaux, Alexander Zelinsky, and Jochen Heinzmann, originating from the university's robotics systems laboratory with the vision that vehicles would become the world's first true autonomous robots. The founders' background in robotics and computer vision, particularly face- and gaze-tracking technology, forms the bedrock of the company's offerings. Co-founder Sebastien Rougeaux is an internationally recognized researcher in the field, while Timothy Edwards has a background in systems engineering and played a key role in developing faceLAB, an early non-contact face- and eye-tracking system.

Seeing Machines operates globally, serving the automotive, commercial fleet, aviation, and off-road sectors. Its business model centers on two main segments: Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Aftermarket. In the OEM segment, the company generates license-based revenue by embedding its Driver Monitoring System (DMS) technology directly into new vehicles during production, partnering with major automotive manufacturers like Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. The Aftermarket division sells its 'Guardian' solution, which can be retrofitted into existing commercial vehicle fleets to monitor for fatigue and distraction. This dual approach allows the company to capture revenue from both new vehicle production through royalties and direct sales and services to existing fleet operators.

The core of the company's product suite is its computer vision technology that analyzes a driver's head, face, and eyes in real-time to detect drowsiness, distraction, and microsleeps. Its flagship aftermarket product, Guardian, is a camera-based system that, upon detecting a fatigue or distraction event, triggers in-cab alerts like audio warnings and seat vibrations. The system simultaneously sends data and footage to a 24/7 monitoring center for human analysis and intervention if necessary. For the automotive industry, the company provides its FOVIO driver monitoring platform, which includes the Occula® Neural Processing Unit, embedded software, and advanced optics. This technology is designed for integration into vehicles to meet rising regulatory safety standards, such as Europe's General Safety Regulation. Underpinned by billions of kilometers of real-world driving data, these systems are engineered to function reliably under various conditions, including when drivers wear masks or sunglasses.