Intelligent Driver Alert System for Driver Drowsiness detection and waking up.

Intelligent Driver Alert System for Driver Drowsiness detection and waking up.

Driver alert systems offer a way to reduce the likelihood that a drowsy or fatigued driver will cause an accident due to sluggish reactions or dozing off. These systems are designed to detect the telltale signs of a drowsy or impaired driver, and then provide an alert or take some type of corrective action. Each system uses different methods of detection and correction, but they all share that same general purpose.

The Trouble With Drowsy and Impaired Drivers

Research has found that fatigued and drowsy drivers suffer from slower reaction times and that a large number of both fatal and non-fatal crashes take place during the nighttime and early morning hours when drivers are less alert. With these two pieces of information, it's reasonable to assume that a general increase in driver alertness could potentially save lives.

While an NHTSA study concluded that adequate sleep and proper education on the dangers of drowsy driving are the best solutions to the problem, the reality is that drowsy and impaired drivers get behind the wheel every day. For those drivers, an effective driver alert system can easily be the difference between an uneventful drive and a catastrophic accident.

How Do Driver Alert Systems Work?

Driver alert systems are closely related to lane departure warning systems, in that most of them function by keeping visual track of lane markings to identify any deviations from the lane. While lane departure warning systems are designed to prevent deviation under any and all circumstances, driver alert systems are specifically aimed at identifying signs of driver fatigue.

Rather than triggering only when a vehicle is in danger of straying from its lane, these systems look for the sort of erratic movement typically associated with an impaired driver.

Other systems take it a step further by monitoring the driver’s eyes and face for signs of drowsiness. If the system determines that the driver is having trouble staying awake, it may take corrective action.

The simplest driver alert systems are typically mounted to the driver's head, like an earpiece, and use a simple motion or tilt sensor. If the driver's head nods, the device will usually sound an alarm.

Specific Driver Alert System Implementations

Each OEM that offers a driver alert system has its own take on this technology, but the most common configuration uses a front-facing video camera that is mounted so that it can track both the left and right-hand lane markings.

Some of these systems can also function if only one lane marking is visible. By tracking the lane markings, or examining other inputs, the driver alert system can detect signs of fatigued driving.

Some driver alert systems use complex algorithms to differentiate between intentional movements and the sort of drifting and jerky steering typically associated with a fatigued driver. Other systems have sensitivity controls that the driver can adjust, and most can be switched off manually.

In addition to monitoring the way that a car is being driven, some driver alert systems can also monitor the driver by looking for signs of drooping eyelids, slackened facial muscles, or other telltale signs of drowsiness.

These features aren’t as widely available, though a number of OEMs are working with advanced facial recognition technology for future implementations of their driver alert systems.

When a driver's alert system detects signs of driver fatigue or drowsiness, a number of things can happen. Some of these systems provide a multi-tiered method, which increases in severity as time passes.

These systems will typically start off by sounding some type of buzzer or chime and illuminating a light on the dash. If the driver stops driving erratically at that point, the system will typically shut off the nag light and reset itself. However, if the signs of fatigued driving continue, the driver's alert system may sound a louder alarm that requires some sort of driver interaction to cancel.

Some driver alert systems eventually progress to an alarm that can only be canceled by pulling the vehicle over and either opening the driver’s door or shutting the engine off.

Who Offers Driver Alert Systems?

Driver alert systems are offered by a number of OEMs, and others have plans to implement their own technologies, but not every automaker offers the feature in every territory. In many cases, driver alert systems are rolled into packages that also include various other crash avoidance technologies.

Some of the OEMs That Offer Some Type of Driver Alert System Include:

• Ford (Driver Alert)

• Mercedes-Benz (Attention Assist)

• Toyota (Driver Monitoring System)

• Volkswagen (Fatigue Detection System)

• Volvo (Driver Alert Control)

Intelligent Driver Alert (I-DA) system

Helps detect driver fatigue and alerts the driver when erratic driving occurs

• It is the driver's responsibility to remain alert at all times. Intelligent Driver Awareness is only a warning to inform the driver of a potential lack of driver attention or drowsiness. It does not detect and provide an alert in every situation.

The Intelligent Driver Alertness is a system which helps detect driver fatigue and decreased attentiveness and encourages the driver to take a rest. When the vehicle is traveling above 60 kilometres per hour for a period of time the system monitors steering behaviour to detect changes from the normal pattern.

System operation

When a driver is fatigued or attention is reduced, corrective steering is performed more frequently than usual. The system’s technology helps detect erratic driving caused by driver drowsiness or inattention.

While driving at a speed of 60 kph/37 mph or higher, the system monitors steering input patterns by the driver. If the system determines that driving behavior is consistent with drowsy or inattentive driving, based on changes in smoothness of the steering operation, the system generates an audible chime and a message in the multi-information display to prompt the driver to take a break.

System mechanism

Intelligent Driver Alertness (I-DA) determines driver drowsiness or reduced attention based on changes in smoothness (roughness) of steering input by the driver. Using the steering angle sensors, the system calculates the roughness of steering input patterns by the driver, based on the steering angle. The system continuously compares subsequent driving patterns to a baseline using a statistical analysis of steering correction errors.

If the difference in driving patterns reaches a certain level or higher, the system determines that the driver's attention is reduced and generates an audible chime and a message is displayed in the multi-information display to prompt the driver to take a break.

Are There Any Aftermarket Driver Alert Systems

While there are a lot of OEMs working on driver alert technologies, similar systems are available to the owners of older vehicles through the aftermarket. Some aftermarket driver alert systems include:

• Anti Sleep Pilot

• Takata SafeTrak

There are also simpler aftermarket solutions, like the Nap Zapper, that a driver can wear on his head. These devices detect specific movements, such as when a drowsy driver’s head nods, and respond by sounding a loud alarm.

While devices like these are decidedly low tech in comparison to real driver alert systems, and efficacy will vary from one driver to another, they are also significantly less expensive.

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