In-car robot set to replace sat-nav!

06th November 2009

Drivers are well used to sat-navs that sit on the dashboard, but they don’t usually have eyes!

This new wacky in-car device, called the Affective Intelligent Driving Agent (AIDA), can not only select the best way to get from A to B, but will calculate your favourite routes, too.

It also reminds you to fill up if you’re running low on fuel, and can even suggest places you might like to visit. And it will sympathise if it thinks you’ve had a bad day!

The on-board companion is designed to “read the driver’s mood from facial expression and other cues, and respond in an appropriate and informative way”, according to Cynthia Breazeal, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). And as it’s being developed in a joint venture with Audi, it could first appear on the A4.

The robot also uses real-time data about traffic jams, weather and nearby tourist attractions. So MIT boffins say it should be able to work out home and work locations within one week of being installed and used. The system will eventually direct drivers to their preferred destinations, and suggest a route that avoids congestion.

The idea is that drivers will not view the robot as a device, but a friendly companion, like a passenger. And just like one of those, AIDA can also give you feedback on your driving!

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