Driver State Metrics for Future Safety Systems - internship

In a nutshell

Design and validate driver state metrics using data and simulations to enhance next-gen ADAS safety systems and improve driver interaction with automated technologies

Company Information

TOYOTA is one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers and a leading global corporation. Founded in 1937. Toyota now sells vehicles in 170 countries and employs over 350.000 people. Based in Brussels, Belgium, and staffed by 2.700 people and more than 60 nationalities, Toyota Motor Europe (TME) handles the wholesale marketing of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, parts & accessories, and manages Toyota’s European R&D, manufacturing, and engineering operations.

We are excited to be transforming into a mobility company focusing on bringing even more happiness to our customers through various mobility solutions.

Your team and your responsibilities

Team/division description

Vehicle Performance Engineering division

To provide our European customers with a unique Toyota Mobility Experience. Using the ever-better methods and technologies, we strive to establish competitive targets for the evolving market and work collaboratively with our stakeholders, and efficiently in our process. We take a data driven, digital and human-centric approach.

ADAS – UX team

Our mission is to secure highly competitive ADAS/AD* products that exceed future user expectations. Our scope includes evaluating and enhancing ADAS systems for European drivers, conducting user research, and developing innovative concepts.

* ADAS: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems; AD: Automated Driving.

Your project

This internship focuses on defining and validating robust driver state metrics to support future ADAS safety and compliance (e.g., future Euro NCAP needs). The goal is to translate “driver states” into actionable, measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) using Driver Monitoring System (DMS) camera signals and driving performance indicators:

• Review and understand state‑of‑the‑art driver state metrics related to attention, distraction, understanding (confusion), mental load, and stress.
• Define a candidate KPI set based on DMS and driving performance signals (e.g., gaze dispersion/entropy, off‑road glance patterns, fixation/saccade patterns, reaction time, lane deviation, steering micro‑corrections, …).
• Data analysis to investigate KPI patterns and translate them into driver state insights.
• Collaborative design and execution of simulator study, including: Definition of driving scenarios and driver tasks that reliably induce the desired changes in driver state (e.g., secondary task distraction) and repeatable, robust collection of user data.
• KPI validation (sensitivity, robustness, interpretability) and application to driver-ADAS interactions.

Your Profile

• You are fluent in English (TME’s business language)
• You are a Master student in Engineering, Industrial design, Cognitive Scene, or another relevant field
  • Interested in human factors and the interaction with safety systems
• You have demonstrated programming skills in MATLAB or Python
  • For example, applied to time-series data analysis, basic statistical analysis, and/or data interpretation
• The following skills are not required, but consider an asset:
  • Experimental UX design and behavioural research methods
  • Prior exposure to eye-tracking or other driver monitoring systems
  • Experience working with driving simulators
• You are a team player with strong organisation skills and curiosity to learn

Starting date

Fully flexible, but preferably between August and September.

Duration

•  6 months

Confidentiality

Due to business requirement, not all performed projects can be reflected in the internship report. This issue needs to be discussed with candidate/school in advance.

It is mandatory that applicants are students for the entire period of the internship.

We can only accept students with an EEA or Swiss citizenship (not requiring a work permit or visa to be eligible to perform an internship in Belgium)

We offer

We offer a dynamic multicultural work environment with broad opportunities to learn every day and exciting career pathways that help you explore different disciplines or areas of expertise.

Your benefits

• Flexible working hours and hybrid working (homeworking, 10 days from abroad);
• Company restaurant – Warm dishes, salads and desserts daily, including Japanese and traditional Belgian specialties, as well as a vegan/vegetarian option;
• Sport facilities – Tennis, squash, volleyball, football and softball pitches are available at various Toyota sites;
• Team building activities and other personnel related events;
• Programs to support your physical and social well-being.

A truly diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace

At Toyota Motor Europe, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all. All our recruitment decisions are based on the individual and their qualifications along with the job requirements. The selection process is without regard to nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, ethnicity, disability or other personal characteristics. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination as our individual experiences and overall diversity is our key strength. Together we have the power to make a positive change and go beyond the ordinary.

If you need any specific consideration for the interview process due to disability or any other reason, please let the recruiter know.