New Technology to detect driver fatigue
By: Team Ifairer | Posted: 25-04-2014
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Researchers have developed a new technology that can detect when drivers are about to nod off
behind the wheel.The technology is based on steering wheel movements and offers an affordable and more reliable alternative to currently available video-based driver drowsiness detection systems, researchers said.
'Video-based systems that use cameras to detect when a car is drifting out of its lane are cumbersome and expensive,' said Hans Van Dongen, research professor at the Washington State
University Sleep and Performance Research Center.
'They don't work well on snow-covered or curvy roads, in darkness or when lane markers are
faded or missing.
Twenty-nine participants followed a simulated 10-day night shift program that spurred moderate levels of fatigue. This was assessed from their performance on an alertness test known as ‘psychometer vigilance task’. On every night shift, participants took four sessions of 30-minutes each on a high fidelity driving simulator that gathered useful data related to speed, steering and other important factors.