Chattanooga-based 3rd Eye releases AI camera to coach commercial drivers

3rd Eye, part of Chattanooga-based company Environmental Solutions, is releasing an artificial intelligence-driven safety camera made to help commercial drivers spot risks as they happen rather than simply collecting data. The safety camera runs AI models on the device to read road conditions, driver behavior and vehicle movements in real time to provide coaching to drivers so they have a chance to correct course, the company said. The cameras can be used on heavy-duty commercial vehicles and light-duty pickup trucks and service vehicles, said Jessica Coco, a spokesperson for Environmental Solutions. "The system is designed to coach drivers in real time, helping them recognize and correct risky behavior before an incident occurs," Coco said in an email. "Rather than simply recording violations for later review, it provides immediate feedback through audible alerts and visual notifications." (READ MORE: How Chattanooga company is trying to solve a shortage of truck parking) 3rd Eye was founded in 2001 to provide analytics and camera systems that document events inside and outside vehicles to improve safety. Environmental Solutions acquired Alliance Wireless Technologies, the former owner of 3rd Eye, in 2016. Environmental Solutions is an equipment manufacturer serving the solid waste and recycling industries. The company was acquired by Connecticut-based industrial equipment maker Terex Corporation for $2 billion in 2024. The new AI camera, expected to become available for purchase this month, includes the company's Driver Safety Assistance platform to provide alerts to drivers. The system helps drivers recognize and address risky behaviors like cell phone use, speeding and fatigue, according to the company. While the camera is intended primarily as a safety feature to help drivers, it could be used to evaluate drivers, Coco said. "The system also rates incidents by severity and records video evidence, meaning it can contribute to driver performance reviews or coaching programs," she said. "The primary focus is coaching and accident prevention, but fleets can still use collected safety data for management and supervision purposes." (SIGN UP: Get Business news from the Times Free Press in your inbox five days a week by going to timesfreepress.com/business) The clearest use for the camera is for companies that want to reduce accidents in real time, need visibility into drivers' risky behavior, operate in areas with inconsistent cell service or prefer to use a single platform for safety monitoring and diagnostics, Coco said. The camera monitors both the road and the driver with 360-degree visibility. Several features set the new safety camera apart in the market, Coco said: — The camera includes its own AI processing rather than depending on cloud processing, allowing faster alerts and consistent performance even with bad cell service. — The camera is part of a single integrated 3rd Eye platform that reduces the number of vendors customers must work with. — The camera allows for privacy settings inside the cabin while maintaining its safety functions. — The camera can be used in both heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles. — The camera takes 15 minutes to install. Environmental Solutions hopes the camera helps increase driver safety, said Pat Carroll, the company's president. "Video has traditionally told fleets what happened after an incident," Carroll said in a press release. "This camera is built to step in earlier." Contact business reporter Daniel Dassow at ddassow@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318. ddassow@timesfreepress.com Daniel Dassow is a business reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He earned degrees in English and religious studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2023, where he served as editor-in-chief of The Daily Beacon. He previously worked as a tech and energy reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel. He is the youngest of six siblings. Contact him at 423-757-6318 or ddassow@timesfreepress.com.