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Most driver information systems offered in automobiles today display vehicle speed, fluid levels, fluid temperatures, and some basic diagnostic information (warnings, panel lamps). Optional driver information systems add to this list by offering fuel economy information, compass heading, outside temperature and other comfort and convenience related items. Very few provide information in regards to the real performance of the vehicle, its motion in 3-dimensional space, or the driver’s skill and performance. Making this information available to the driver can enhance the “fun-to-drive” aspects of driving.

A highly integrated system was constructed to assess, and react to, a driver's cognitive load. Sensors embedded throughout the car track a wide variety of driver activities, including driving conditions, driver reactions, control usage, driver reflexes, passenger interaction, and driver attention. The raw sensor readings are compiled and parsed, and used to assess the cognitive and stress load on the driver based on affective computer modeling. Various outputs to the driver, including alarms, warnings, and communications, are selectively suppressed or dynamically reconfigured to maximize driver attention on the road scene and avoid cognitive overload.

On-board vehicle information, navigation, and computing systems traditionally use built-in or embedded computer design strategies. A different approach recently demonstrated on two DaimlerChrysler concept vehicles focuses on the use of a removable or customer supplied computer to do the in-vehicle computing. The use of a “bring your own” computer will help the OEM avoid obsolescence issues that would normally be associated with an embedded computer solution. This in-vehicle computer will allow the merger of both future information and automotive electronics technology to create “Infotronic” systems capable of guiding drivers on future intelligent highway systems. Two such “Infotronic” proposals will be explored. The first system, installed in the Dodge “ESX-2” concept car, employs a removable handheld personal computer (HPC). A second system, installed in the Jeep “Commander” concept vehicle, uses a removable laptop computer and supports the same “bring your own” approach.

This paper discusses the feasibility and issues associated with integrating a consumer off-the shelf product into a vehicle. For this evaluation, we selected a handheld personal computer (HPC), cellular telephone and modem to integrate with the vehicle audio, climate and system controls. Connectivity between the HPC and the vehicle is established by the use of the standard infrared serial data link that comes with the HPC. Connectivity outside the vehicle uses a cellular telephone for voice and a cellular digital packet data (CDPD) modem for data. This system is built into the Dodge ESX-2 hybrid powered concept vehicle for demonstration.