Cost-effective driver drowsiness detection

Bosch has revealed that its driver drowsiness detection system, first introduced as a standard feature in 2010, in the new Volkswagen Passat is being fitted to the new Passat Alltrack. Fatigue and microsleep at the wheel are often the cause of serious accidents. However, the initial signs of fatigue can be detected before a critical situation arises, and the Bosch system can do this by monitoring steering movements and advising drivers to take a break in time. The required information is provided either by
May 2, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
311 Bosch has revealed that its driver drowsiness detection system, first introduced as a standard feature in 2010, in the new 994 Volkswagen Passat is being fitted to the new Passat Alltrack.

Fatigue and microsleep at the wheel are often the cause of serious accidents. However, the initial signs of fatigue can be detected before a critical situation arises, and the Bosch system can do this by monitoring steering movements and advising drivers to take a break in time. The required information is provided either by the car’s electric power steering system, or by the steering angle sensor, which is part of the car's ESP anti-skid system. Bosch says that the feature can therefore be installed cost-effectively and helps further increase road safety.

The influence of fatigue on accidents has been demonstrated in a number of studies. In 2010, the 1765 American Automobile Association (AAA) published an analysis based on the accident data collected by the 834 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States. The assessment showed that overtired drivers were at the wheel in 17 per cent of all fatal accidents in the US.

Fading concentration and fatigue compromise the driver’s steering behaviour and response time. Fine motor skills deteriorate, and steering behaviour becomes less precise. The driver corrects small steering mistakes more often. The new driver drowsiness detection function is based on an algorithm which begins recording the driver’s steering behaviour the moment the trip begins. It then recognises changes over the course of long trips, and thus also the driver's level of fatigue. Typical signs of waning concentration are phases during which the driver is barely steering, combined with slight, yet quick and abrupt steering movements to keep the car on track. Based on the frequency of these movements and other parameters, among them the length of a trip, use of turn signals, and the time of day, the function calculates the driver's level of fatigue. If that level exceeds a certain value, an icon such as a coffee cup flashes on the instrument panel to warn drivers that they need a rest. The Bosch Driver Drowsiness
Detection function addresses an important aspect of the driver's condition, and can thus contribute to improving road safety.

Related Content

  • Researchers test cost-effective vehicle automation
    April 17, 2013
    Researchers at Oxford University in the UK are testing a combination of off-the-shelf technology which could enable a car to drive itself for sections of a familiar route. Dr Ingmar Posner of the University’s mobile robotics group is part of a team working on the car which he believes could affordably reach the showrooms in ten or fifteen years.
    Read More
  • Selecting the right camera for safety or security
    January 30, 2012
    Machine vision systems offer great variety of function and performance. Teledyne DALSA product manager Manuel Romero describes 10 key criteria to aid selection of advanced camera technology for safety or security applications. There are many ways in which machine vision systems can enhance safety and security in transportation, but the ultimate results will only be as good as the image produced. Success relies on correct selection of the camera of such systems, as the features and performance required vary
    Read More
  • Tesla Autopilot system ‘not at fault’ in fatal crash
    January 24, 2017
    A nine-month investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into the fatal car crash involving a Tesla Model S in Florida last year has concluded that the car’s Autopilot system, which was in operation at the time, was not at fault. The decision noted that Autopilot is a Level 2 self-driving system and, therefore, requires the driver to always monitor the system and be at the ready to intervene – a stipulation that the driver failed to perform, the administration says.
    Read More
  • Panasonic develops driver drowsiness-control technology
    November 28, 2017
    Panasonic Corporation has developed technology for detecting and predicting a person’s level of drowsiness prior to driving. This technology, which helps prevent drowsy driving, detects a driver’s shallow drowsiness at the initial state by using an in-vehicle camera to capture indicators such as blinking features and facial expressions and processing these signals using artificial intelligence. Using this data, Panasonic’s technology predicts transitions in the driver’s drowsiness level. The technology al
    Read More

Highlighted Content