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Preventative Technologies for Driver Drowsiness

To prevent drowsiness while driving companies across the globe have looked into technologies to either detect drowsiness and protect the driver, or keep the driver awake. One such technology that helps keep drivers awake is called blue light. This is simply a type of light that is installed in all lights in vehicles. Blue light strains your eyes making it difficult to fall asleep due to the brightness of the lights. Overhead, touch screen, clock, and the lights illuminating the speedometer and gas meter all have this blue light phenomena. How this technology works is by using data from lane departure sensors to detect jerky movements or swerving in and out of lanes. Once received a coffee symbol on the dash will illuminate or a verbal response will sound to alert the driver that they should take a break. Seat vibrations will also deploy in hopes to startle the driver and make he or she more alert. These technologies are not yet perfect and are most times faulty in detecting drowsiness. Other technologies are in the works to flash bright lights containing blue light to keep drivers awake along with steering technology that can correct driver error while swerving due to drowsiness.

Navigation Systems and Advanced Technology

Navigation system technologies

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Electronic stability control or otherwise known as roll over protection for vehicles is a specific technology that helps to keep the car balanced. During weather or tough road conditions that would cause vehicle steering to be extreme this technology allows the drivers to regain control and prevent possible crashes, roll overs, and fishtails. When hydroplaning this is the system that is in play to allow you to come out of a hydroplane safely. This in combination with AEB technologies take control of each individual wheel to allow the driver to steer in the intended direction. To do this ESC technologies simply apply singular breaks on each wheel to slow that side of the vehicle down to the speed of the rest. Electronic stability control does not give back traction to the vehicle just balance and momentary steering control.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

There are four different and diverse automatic and emergency braking technologies (AEB). They include Automatic Emergency Braking, Crash Imminent Braking, Dynamic Brake Support, and Pedestrian Emergency Braking. These collision avoidance technologies detect vehicles in front of the car and automatically brake if a crash is sensed. Before making any decisions on its own AEB systems alert the driver of the suspected crash and allow a chance for the driver to take action. If the driver does not acknowledge the alert AEB technology will then apply the brakes in hopes of avoiding or lessening the severity of a crash. Dynamic brake support is a technology that applies the brakes harder if the driver previously doesn't. As for crash imminent braking, this system automatically will apply the brakes to avoid a crash. Drivers do not need to apply the brakes for the crash imminent system to engage. Pedestrian emergency braking systems sense pedestrians in front or near the car and will apply the brakes if drivers make no move too. This technology uses front facing radar sensors and cameras to detect pedestrians and apply the brakes in hopes to avoid a collision. These systems have been available on a wide range of vehicles since 2006. Since their growing popularity, prices to add these systems to new vehicles have dropped and are cheap to install. However they are quite pricey to fix due to the resolution and grade of cameras and sensors.

Blind spot monitoring

Vehicles of all shapes and sizes have something called a blind spot. This vehicle blind spot is an outside area that cannot be seen by the driver from where he or she is sitting in the drivers seat. Each person will have a different area outside the car in which they cannot see to detect an oncoming vehicle. Along with a different blind spot for each different vehicle. To help subside many crashes related to blind spots, numerous companies have developed technology that alerts drivers of a car near their vehicle. These technologies not only detect a vehicle in the general vicinity of the car, but they also will detect which side that vehicle is approaching. Radar sensors and cameras are positioned all around the exterior of vehicles that capture the movement and presence of vehicles in those areas. To alert the driver blind spot monitoring systems will make a small sound, vibrate and illuminate a symbol, sound and illuminate a warning symbol, sound an audible warning, or just illuminate a warning symbol. Most symbols will appear on the outsides of vehicles side mirrors and on the side in which a vehicle is present. Noises may also sound if the driver signals a turn signal when there is a vehicle in the blind spot area. Blind spot monitoring technologies are equipped on most luxury vehicles and or recently produced vehicles. There are packages present to add blind spot monitoring to vehicles at the time of purchase. The problem these systems struggle with is detecting fast moving cars, motorcycles, or low riding cars.

Lane Departure Warnings

Specific lines are painted on to roadways to create lanes. These lanes are put in place to help avoid reckless swerving while driving and crashes related to unknown destinations. As a part of this lane departure warning systems have been created in order to prevent lane swerving and possible driver drowsiness accidents. Lane departure warning systems are technologies that have underside and wheel well cameras that detect when a wheel has unintentionally crossed a lane line without a turn signal. To alert the driver of this occurrence lane departure systems signal a vibrate of the seat and illumination of a symbol, a small sound and illumination of a symbol, a verbal warning from system technologies, or just the illumination of a symbol. These systems do not alert the driver of a lane departure if a turn signal is used. So not only do these systems intend to prevent crashes and drowsiness, but they also aim to eliminate the number of times a lane switch occurs without the use of a turn signal. Lane departure systems can be turned off so that no alert will be sounded, but it is recommended that a dealer make this change to prevent damage to the system.

Speed Monitoring and Warning Systems

Speed warning systems are designed to signal to the driver of the vehicle when he or she has accelerated the speed limit. To do this GPS technology to triangulate the vehicles location and speed limits in that area. Using built in speed sensors this system can even track school and work zone speed limit changes that otherwise may go unnoticed. When a driver exceeds the speed limit a small ding will sound, if the speed limit is shown digitally the color will turn red, an icon will light up and a ding will sound, or there will be a verbal response from the vehicle alerting the driver of their speed and to slow down. There have been tests on a new technology called intelligent speed adaptions. This intelligent speed adaptation technology would assess the vehicles speed, and with the permission from the driver, automatically slow the vehicle down to the proper legal speed. Technology of this sort is being tested in the United States and Europe. Drivers would be able to override this system and or turn it completely off. These technologies keep roads safe and even drivers safe from accidental distractions resulting in a speeding ticket.

Technologies To Come

There are many technologies in the works that one day will be integrated into our vehicle livelihoods. The first technology to come is Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication. This technology would allow vehicles on busy highways, interstates, and even small country roads to wirelessly communicate. Communication between vehicles simply boils down to the sharing of speed data and positioning of other vehicles with all cars on the road which would create a 360 degree awareness for each driver. The hopes of this vehicle-to-vehicle communication is that it will prevent more crashes, and ease traffic congestion. Unfortunately the many benefits that could also be achieved with this technology can only do so when all vehicles can communicate with each other. The next technology in design is Vehicle Cyber-Security. Due to the many electronics installed in cars today, cyber theft is a bigger threat than it ever has been. Without proper security over vehicles electronics thieves can access GPS locations and recently traveled places. If the driver connects their phone over Bluetooth this information can also be stolen when the phone is actively connected to the vehicle. Many electric vehicles systems that control the car can also be hacked and the hacker can then control the vehicle putting the driver and passengers safety and privacy in jeopardy. Many devices are being designed to help protect drivers private electronic information along with the safety of their vehicle technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working closely with engineers to develop this future technology. Driver drowsiness preventative technologies that involve cameras are also being designed. These technologies would watch your retina eye movement and determine when drivers are getting drowsy with the lack of eye movement.

References[edit]

1. https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/driver-assistance-technologies
2. https://mycardoeswhat.org/safety-features/blind-spot-monitor/
3. https://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle-Shoppers/Safety-Technology/ldw
4. https://mycardoeswhat.org/safety-features/high-speed-alert/
5. https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/vehicle-vehicle-communication
6. https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/vehicle-cybersecurity
7. https://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle-Shoppers/Rollover/Electronic-Stability-Control
8. https://mycardoeswhat.org/safety-features/drowsiness-alert/