Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV) · 1995 · 56 citations · 0 references
EngineeringAutomotive EngineeringComputer ScienceComputer VisionMachine VisionSensorsAlerting SystemsVisual DetectionAlertnessDriver Drowsiness DetectionDrowsy Driving PreventionHuman Response To AlertsNoncontact MeasurementNonverbal Warning SystemsVisual AlertsWarning Signal Detection
The development of technologies for preventing drowsiness at the wheel is a major challenge in the field of accident avoidance systems. Preventing drowsiness during driving requires a method for accurately detecting a decline in driver alertness and a method for alerting and refreshing the driver. As a detection method, a system has been developed that uses image processing technology to analyze images of the driver's face taken with a video camera. Diminished alertness is detected on the basis of the degree to which the driver's eyes are open or closed. This detection system provides a noncontact technique for judging various levels of driver alertness, and facilitates early detection of a decline in alertness during driving. When a diminished state of alertness is detected, the system issues a signal that first activates an audible warning, and then generates a menthol scent. Compared with the stimulative effect of an audible warning alone, experimental results show that the provision of an audible warning combined with a menthol scent is more than twice as effective in keeping the driver alert. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 894848.