Driver drowsiness detection

Driver drowsiness detection is a car safety technology which helps prevent accidents caused by the driver getting drowsy. Various studies have suggested that around 20% of all road accidents are fatigue-related, up to 50% on certain roads.^[1][2]

Some of the current systems learn driver patterns and can detect when a driver is becoming drowsy.

Technology

Various technologies can be used to try to detect driver drowsiness.^[3]

Steering pattern monitoring

Primarily uses steering input from electric power steering system.

Vehicle position in lane monitoring

Uses lane monitoring camera.

Driver eye/face monitoring

Requires a camera watching the driver's face. ^[4]

Physiological measurement

Requires body sensors for measure parameters like brain activity, heart rate, skin conductance, muscle activity.

Systems

• Audi: Rest recommendation system^[5]
• BMW: Active Driving Assistant with Attention Assistant analyses driving behaviour and, if necessary, advises the driver to rest. The advice to take a break is provided in the form of graphic symbols shown on the Control Display.^[6]
• Bosch: "Driver drowsiness detection"^[7] takes input from the steering angle sensor, front-mounted lane assist camera, vehicle speed and turn signal stalk.
• Ford: Driver Alert^[8]
• Mazda: Lane Departure Warning System
• Mercedes-Benz: Attention Assist^[9] In 2009, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a system called Attention Assist which monitors the driver's fatigue level and drowsiness based on his/her driving inputs. It issues a visual and audible alarm to alert the driver if he or she is too drowsy to continue driving. It is linked to the car's navigation system, and using that data, it can tell the driver where coffee and fuel are available.^[10]
• Nissan: Driver Attention Alert (DAA)^[11]
• Subaru: EyeSight Driver Assist
• Volkswagen: Fatigue detection system^[12]
• Volvo Cars: Driver Alert Control^[13] In 2007, Volvo Cars launched the world's first Driver Drowsiness Detection system, Driver Alert Control. The system monitors the car's movements and assesses whether the vehicle is being driven in a controlled or uncontrolled way. If the system detects a high risk of the driver being drowsy, the driver is alerted via an audible signal. Also, a text message appears in the car's information display, alerting him or her with a coffee cup symbol to take a break. Additionally, the driver can continuously retrieve driving information from the car's trip computer. The starting-point is five bars. The less consistent the driving, the fewer bars remain.
• Anti Sleep Pilot - Danish device that can be fitted to any vehicle, uses a combination of accelerometers and reaction tests.^[14]
• Vigo - Smart Bluetooth headset that detects signs of drowsiness through the eyes and head motion, and uses a combination of light, sound and vibration to alert the user.^[15]
• Range Rover Evoque Convertible - Driver Condition Monitor - The tech helps detect the onset of drowsiness. If detected, a warning message is displayed to prompt the driver to take a break.

Source, in the 2nd video, near the end - http://www.landrover.in/vehicles/range-rover-evoque/convertible-gallery/evoque-convertible-videos.html

See also

• Driver Monitoring System (Toyota)

References

1. "DRIVER FATIGUE AND ROAD ACCIDENTS A LITERATURE REVIEW and POSITION PAPER" (PDF). Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. February 2001.
2. "4.1.03. Driver Drowsiness Detection System for Cars". Retrieved 2015-11-05.
3. Sgambati, Frank, Driver Drowsiness Detection
4. Walger, D.J.; Breckon, T.P.; Gaszczak, A.; Popham, T. (November 2014). "A Comparison of Features for Regression-based Driver Head Pose Estimation under Varying Illumination Conditions" (PDF). Proc. International Workshop on Computational Intelligence for Multimedia Understanding (IEEE): 1–5. doi:10.1109/IWCIM.2014.7008805. walger14headpose.
5. https://www.audi-mediaservices.com/publish/ms/content/en/public/hintergrundberichte/2012/03/05/a_statement_about/driver_assistance.html Driver assistance systems
6. "BMW model upgrade measures taking effect from the summer of 2013.". BMW. 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
7. "Driver drowsiness detection". Robert Bosch GmbH. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
8. "DRIVER ALERT".
9. "ATTENTION ASSIST: Drowsiness-detection system warns drivers to prevent them falling asleep momentarily". Retrieved 18 February 2010.
10. http://www.autonews.com/article/20140804/OEM06/308049979/mercedes-benzs-autonomous-driving-features-dominate-the-industry Mercedes-Benz's autonomous driving features dominate the industry -- and will for years
11. "2016 Nissan Maxima "4-Door Sports Car" makes global debut at New York International Auto Show". Nissan Online Newsroom. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
12. "Fatigue Detection". Retrieved 6 August 2014.
13. "Volvo Cars introduces new systems for alerting tired and distracted drivers". Retrieved 28 August 2007.
14. Coxworth, Ben (3 January 2011). "Anti Sleep Pilot detects drowsy drivers". Gizmag.
15. "Bluetooth Headset Vigo Knows When You Are Tired Before You Do". Retrieved 20 March 2014.