ABOUT
Our Story
AssistWare Technology, Inc., is a spin-off of Carnegie Mellon University’s world-renown Robotics Institute. Founded in October, 1995, AssistWare has leveraged significant research to commercialize a cost-effective solution to prevent accidents caused by drowsy, inattentive or distracted driving.
The core lane tracking technology was developed as part of Department of Transportation (DOT) sponsored research into autonomous vehicle control. This research culminated with the “No Hands Across America” vehicle trip from Washington D.C. to San Diego, CA in the summer of 1995. This real-world test, whereby a computer-controlled minivan steered itself on a 3000 mile trip across the country, represented a technological breakthrough in autonomous vehicle control. Recognizing that there was no market demand for a self-driving vehicle, we began to explore alternative applications for this technology.
National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) data showed that run-off-road crashes, typically caused by drowsy or distracted driving, represented the single biggest cause of highway fatalities. Realizing that these crashes could easily be prevented utilizing technology developed as part of "No Hands Across America.", development began on what would ultimately become SafeTRACTM, the industry’s first commercially available lane departure warning system.
Recognized as the worldwide leader in lane departure systems and autonomous vehicles, Assistware is an instrumental part of the Department of Transportation's ambitious Road Departure Crash Warning (RDCW) Field Operational Test. In addition to RDCW, field trials with numerous research groups, foreign DOTs and fleet customers has been undertaken to validate the technology in real-world operation. Feedback from these customers and field trials has been instrumental to the development of the technology, and has resulted in the current third generation version.
In 2001, AssistWare spun-off a subsidiary, Applied Perception (API). API develops and licenses unmanned robotics-related technology, including self-driving vehicles, to the defense, agriculture, construction and transportation industries.
Today, SafeTRAC can be found in fleets and passenger vehicles worldwide. Assistware continues this history of innovation with an aggressive R&D effort as we develop additional new and innovative technologies aimed at improving driver safety.
Assistware Technology l 724-449-SAFE (7233) l safetrac-sales@assistware.com