NOVI

The NOVI project, part of the DTS2022 curriculum at METU Design Factory, represents a collaborative effort completed within an interdisciplinary framework. Funded by Vestel, the project was developed by a dedicated team, the ICE, including myself, along with teammates from different departments of METU under the guidance of academic mentors Dr. Adil Oran and Dr. Arsev Umur Aydınoğlu. Aimed at addressing the challenges faced by novice drivers, the initiative's primary goal was to assist them in developing effective driving behaviors, thereby reducing their stress and enhancing their overall driving skills.

Method

The project's approach centered on using smartphone sensors, such as cameras, GPS, and IMUs, for data collection due to their cost-effectiveness, convenience, and adaptability. This strategy enabled us to comprehensively gather and analyze driving data, focusing on various aspects like head pose estimation, blink rate, and speed, as well as complex maneuvers including turning, braking, and lane changing. My contributions to the team were required in the development and implementation of these data acquisition and processing methods. I also played a role in the development of features for driver monitoring and behavior analysis. A key element of NOVI was its feedback system, which incorporated both online and offline feedback and feedforward mechanisms, providing drivers with immediate and constructive evaluations. Looking ahead, the project plans to further integrate these systems into car infrastructures and continue the development of advanced algorithms to enhance user experience and system effectiveness. The ultimate objective of NOVI is to create an environment where users can comfortably lend or borrow vehicles and continually improve their driving skills through the app's insightful feedback. The prototype of the mobile application can be found here. Also, a demo of a subsystem and final poster of the project can be seen below.