Volvo Group invests in technology that increases drivers' attention on the road

Volvo Group invests in technology that increases drivers' attention on the road 

Studies show that lack of attention is the single largest cause of traffic
accidents. As part of the Volvo Group's comprehensive safety efforts, Volvo
Technology Transfer is now investing in Seeing Machines, which is a technology
developed by an Australian company that detects and warns vehicle drivers in the
event of tiredness.


Experiences from the Volvo Group's accident investigations and general traffic
safety research show that accidents are a combination of the human factor,
vehicle problems and/or the traffic environment, in which the human factor
accounts for 90% of accidents. This was confirmed by new research conducted at
the Virginia Tech Transport Institute that demonstrates even more distinctly
that inattentiveness, due to tiredness or distraction, is the single largest and
most significant cause of accidents.

Seeing Machines is a company that arose from the research results from a number
of research projects at the Australian National University (ANU) between 1997
and 2000. The company specializes in computerized technology that is able to
track and follow head and eye movements and facial expressions. The technology
is applicable for products within areas including vehicle safety, medical
diagnosing, simulation, marketing and games. 
Within the vehicle safety area, Seeing Machines' offers include a small camera
that automatically detects signs of driver tiredness and distraction. A specific
calculation program processes the information from images and measures the
position of the head and rotation, eye movements and eyelid behavior. The degree
of tiredness in the driver is measured by registering how the eyes open and
close and should the driver close his/her eyes, this is registered directly.
Distraction and work load is measured using head and eye movements. 

“We hope that this technology will reduce the number of accidents on our roads
and become an important feature in safety efforts at vehicle manufacturers,”
says Stig Fagerståhl at Volvo Technology Transfer and responsible for investing
in Seeing Machines. 

Volvo Technology Transfer AB is part of the Volvo Group and focuses on
developing and supporting new businesses that are relevant to the Volvo Group.
Part of the work is to invest in companies and projects that are technologically
and commercially attractive. 

December 18, 2007

For reporters who want more information, please contact Mårten Wikforss, +46 31
66 11 27 or +46 705 59 11 49.

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AB Volvo (publ) may be required to disclose the information provided herein
pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for
publication at 10.00 a.m. December 18.



The Volvo Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and
construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications,
aerospace components and services. The Group also provides complete solutions
for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 100,000 people,
has production facilities in 19 countries and sells their products in more than
180 markets. Annual sales of the Volvo Group amount to about 27 billion euro.
The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Göteborg, Sweden.
Volvo shares are listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm.