A new spy-in-the-sky camera which identified 15,000 cases of drivers using mobile phones could also catch motorists eating, drinking, or not wearing a seatbelt, its makers say. Smart cameras linked to a new, automated system using artificial intelligence (AI) are being trialled on an undisclosed motorway - ahead of a blanket ban on holding a mobile device while driving which comes into force in early 2022. The cameras instantly analyse high-definition photos taken through the windscreen of passing cars, and Jenoptik, the enforcement technology firm testing the cameras in the UK, believes they will be crucial in providing evidence to prosecute offenders. The pilot scheme has been running since spring and it is hoped a wider rollout across the country will be possible next year. But Acusensus, the Australian firm who designed the cameras, admits that they can be used to catch motorists doing anything from eating, drinking, smoking, adjusting the radio or using navigation devices in a holder.

The use of mobiles phones when driving have been a major factor when it comes to road traffic incidents and the process of capturing such violations can be a laborious task. Advancements in both modern object detection frameworks and high-performance hardware has paved the way for a more automated approach when it comes to video surveillance. In this work, we propose a custom-trained state-of-the-art object detector to work with roadside cameras to capture driver phone usage without the need for human intervention. The proposed approach also addresses the issues caused by windscreen glare and introduces the steps required to remedy this. Twelve pre-trained models are fine-tuned with our custom dataset using four popular object detection methods: YOLO, SSD, Faster R-CNN, and CenterNet. Out of all the object detectors tested, the YOLO yields the highest accuracy levels of up to 96% (AP10) and frame rates of up to ~30 FPS. DeepSort object tracking algorithm is also integrated into the best-performing model to collect records of only the unique violations, and enable the proposed approach to count the number of vehicles. The proposed automated system will collect the output images of the identified violations, timestamps of each violation, and total vehicle count. Data can be accessed via a purpose-built user interface.

BMW's iNext concept vehicle continues to reveal new tricks after its official introduction at the LA Auto Show last November. Ahead of CES 2019 in Las Vegas on Sunday, the company showed off its latest futuristic feature, mixed reality holographic display. Normally when you're driving a car, all you (at least should) be doing is paying attention to the road and traffic around you. However, as BMW continues to develop its autonomous driving system to Level 3 and beyond, drivers soon won't have to pay nearly as close attention as they once did. In order to fill that newly-freed time, BMW is developing a mixed reality display system that will empower drivers to multitask; clearing items on their to-do list, taking video calls, even watching a bit of TV if they're so inclined. Engadget was afforded a brief preview demonstration of this technology at the BMW Pavillion, in which I donned a VR headset and took a simulated drive in a virtual iNext.

While the U.S. relaxes drone regulations, the U.K. government announced Saturday users will have to register their unmanned aircrafts and take safety awareness tests. The U.K. said users need to register their drone to "improve accountability and encourage owners to act responsibly." Those who own drones that weigh 250 grams (about half a pound) or more will need to register details of the gadgets. Owners will be able register their drones online or through apps, the government said. Users will also be required to take a drone safety awareness test to prove they comprehend U.K. safety and privacy rules.

Regulators hope that this will lead to fewer drones flying over airports and otherwise causing havoc in British skies. A drone weighing around 400 g (0.88lbs) can crack the windscreen of a helicopter, while all but the heaviest drones will have trouble cracking the windscreen of an airliner (and then only at speeds you'd expect beyond the airport). While you might not cause as much chaos as some have feared, you could still create a disaster using a compact drone. It's nothing new to register drones, of course, and it doesn't appear to have dampened enthusiasm in the US.

Drones will have to be registered and users forced to take a safety awareness test under new regulations announced by the UK government. Dozens of near-misses with aircraft around airports have stoked fears over the safety of drone use. Under the rules, owners of drones weighing more than 250g – heavier than many available on the high street – will have to register their details and demonstrate that they understand safety and privacy laws that affect their use. The move follows research that showed strikes by drones of more than 400g could critically damage helicopter windscreens, while a bigger drone of about 2kg could critically harm airliner windscreens at higher speeds. Pilots have been calling for a clampdown after a series of near-collisions between drones and passenger jets, particularly on approach or take-off from major airports, including Heathrow.

Honda has showcased a new system that can read road signs and spot pedestrians to lessen the chance of collisions – and it is set to be rolled out by the end of this year. The Japanese company's'Sensing' technology offers a collection of driving aids to make journeys safer and easier for drivers. They work using a'millimetre-wave radar' which is fitted to a car's radiator grille and a monocular camera mounted near the car's rear-view mirror. Honda has revealed a driver-assistive system that can read road signs and spot pedestrians to lessen the chance of collisions – and it's set to be rolled out by the end of this year. It uses a'millimetre-wave radar' which is fitted to a car's radiator grille and a monocular camera mounted near the car's rear-view mirror (illustrated) More than 1.2 million people are killed in car crashes around the world every year, but auto manufacturers are developing increasingly smart cars with a host of new safety features that give vehicles a mind of their own.

From parking cameras to built-in satellite navigation, the number of smart features being installed in new cars is ever increasing. But there may be good news for people who do not want to upgrade their motor, but still want to benefit from smart technology. A new programme, called ZeroTouch adds smart features to any car, as long as it has an air vent or windscreen. A new programme, called ZeroTouch adds smart features to any car, as long as it has an air vent or windscreen. ZeroTouch has been designed by Lausanne-based Logitech, and connects to Android phones.

The list of self-driving vehicles is ever growing, with companies now producing cars, planes and even military trucks without the need for drivers. And the latest means of transport to be given the autonomous treatment is a public bus. Mercedes-Benz has revealed its self-driving'Future Bus', which it says will be the'local public transport of the future'. As well as being self-driving, the Future Bus will contain a range of modern features in the aim of allowing its passengers to'enjoy a fascinating driving experience.' So far, the bus has been tested on a 12 mile (20 km) route through Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where it performed without any problems - although there was a driver in place in case of emergency.

Police are investigating a pilot's claim that his plane was struck by a drone as it approached Heathrow airport. The Metropolitan police said they were contacted on Sunday afternoon by the pilot, who landed the plane safely at Terminal 5. No one has been arrested, officers said. The flight, BA727, was coming in to London from Geneva, carrying 132 passengers and five crew. British Airways said the Airbus A320 had been examined by engineers and cleared to take off for its next flight after the incident.