New technology uses driver-facing cameras to monitor eyelid and head movement to spot early stages of trucker drowsiness
A California-based fleet safety technology company debuted a new system designed to detect and address drowsy driving.
San Diego-headquartered Netradyne recently introduced the Driver Drowsiness with Driver Monitoring System (DMS) Sensor, which can reportedly detect both early and late stages of drowsiness and provide an in-cab alert. It also provides fleet safety managers with driver drowsiness monitoring capabilities.
“Building on years of sleep research and a vast dataset, Netradyne’s third-generation drowsiness detection technology can now identify early-stage drowsiness. Unlike existing solutions that only detect severe or acute drowsiness, the company’s technology enables proactive intervention, significantly reducing the risk of collisions,” the company said in a news release.
The sensor monitors “subtle micro-behaviors indicative of drowsiness,” including:
• Head movements – nodding, tilted head
• Measurable eyelid status and movement indicators including:
- Blinking characteristics and microsleeps
- PERCLOS – percent eye closure over time
- Features such as raised eyebrows and drooping eyes
The system combines the driver-facing features with outward-facing cameras to assess road behaviors like lane departure that might indicate drowsy driving.
The system also tailors the intensity of the driver alert to the level of drowsiness detected.
The company says that the sensor works in low light and while the driver is wearing sunglasses.
“Despite 95% of Americans recognizing the danger of drowsy driving, a majority still engage in this risky behavior, according to National Sleep Foundation (NSF) data. The risk is compounded for those whose livelihoods depend on driving,” said Adam Kahn, President at Netradyne. “We put drivers first, so we had to get this right by developing a precise sensor to avoid false alerts without compromising drivers’ road safety. Unlike other offerings on the market that come with subjectivity, Netradyne’s DMS Sensor is grounded in science that’s objective and measurable. Our comprehensive solution will give drivers and safety managers peace of mind that drowsy driving incidents will be prevented.”