08-16-2017, 09:15 PM
With the ongoing reduction in size and cost of computing and optical monitoring equipment, many governmental and commercial groups are attempting to develop "intelligent automobiles." According to a review of the field, most major automakers have been pursuing some sort of drowsy driver detection, using methods ranging from monitoring the weaving of the car using yaw rate sensors to monitoring the driver's eye with an in-car camera.
Particularly notable is the U.S. Department of Transportation's Intelligent Vehicle Initiative . Intelligent cars are cars that can respond to the state of the driver and increase both safety and convenience. As 90% of accidents occur due to driver error, a great savings in human life and financial loss could be realized by devices that help effective accident avoidance.
Driver drowsiness is one specific form of human error that has been well studied. Studies have shown that immediately prior to fatigue-induced accidents, the driver's eye exhibits a change in blinking behavior. Specifically, the frequency of blinking increases and the percentage of the eye covered by the lid increases.