AI Based App Will Double Up As Dash Cam, Offer Collision Warnings

Dash cams on cars might not be limited to just law enforcement officials’ cars — a new app can transform your smartphone into a dash cam and will also provide additional features such as crash warnings, auto-detection of events on the roads and even modes for hailing cabs.

Nexar is a free app available in both Google Play Store and Apple App Store and can turn phones into a connected dashboard system. The company claims that its open communication network made collision rate in New York City drop by 30 percent.

The app’s artificial intelligence-based virtual dashboard will also connect drivers to others using the app and help create a safer driving environment. The app detects dangers on the roads and provides “watch out” warnings which could help users avoid potential pile-on situations on the road.

Like any other dash cam, the app can also be used as evidence in case of an accident for claiming insurance, the app makers have claimed.

Nexar actually sources crash warnings from a community of connected drivers and issues real-time warnings about dangers on the road based on such alerts. It also utilizes the camera vision — the view of the field of vision from a connected smartphone’s camera to assess the difference between two vehicles and issue such alerts, which can make the driver brake and potentially save lives.

The app uses not just the smartphone camera but will also leverage information from the smartphone’s sensors to analyze and understand car’s surroundings.

The company uses a diverse automotive road data set called NEXET which helps the artificial intelligence learn from on-road experiences and issue alerts in advance. The company has made the dataset available to researchers to accelerate the development of deep learning networks that create such alerts.

Although, the app will need a slew of connected vehicles around for it to work — in case a Nexar driver in front of the user is applying the brakes of his car, the app will issue a collision warning as soon as you are 10 feet away from the vehicle.

The app will also automatically record dangerous events on the road while your drive and will send such video to the user’s Nexar cloud account.

The best feature of the app, though is its ride-sharing internal camera mode for Uber and Lyft drivers, which will have a split screen view of both the road and inside the vehicle. It will record the passengers’ behavior while also showing the driver a view of the road.

Nexar is also offering a magnetic car mount designed for driving while using the app. It is available on Amazon for $6.95.

The most important thing is that the app functions without any additional hardware although, with the high level of functionality it offers, you might need a car charger at hand, since it might eat up your battery.

The company periodically uploads videos from the app on its website, which makes for interesting viewing.