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Any driver operating a steering wheel all alone who has gone into a "microsleep" and survived to tell the story knows how frightening that can be.
According to a news release from Hoffmann + Krippner on AB Newswire, "Traffic experts claim that about 25 percent of all accidents are caused by extreme fatigue while driving. This makes nodding-off, also referred to as 'micro-sleep,' in combination with heart attacks, as the leading cause of accidents, exceeding the number of accidents caused by alcohol and drugs."
The challenge for technologists is to come up with a system that can safely act faster than the victim's microsleep state or, if a victim has a medical condition that incapacitates the person, can support a safe-stop outcome.
News of a thin strip of sensors inserted beneath the wheel's covering is attracting interest as a way to smarten the steering wheel to recognize drowsy or incapacitated drivers. A steering wheel add-on to this effect has been developed by Hoffmann + Krippner, an engineering firm based in Germany, along with Guttersberg Consulting.
This technology can measure sensitivity in addition to position. The technology is called SensoFoil, thin-film membrane potentiometers that act as reliable membrane position sensors. The operator during normal driving constantly moves hands on the wheel, changing pressure as fingers grip the wheel. Using SensoFoil inside the steering wheel, the vehicle can sense if the operator has fallen asleep with hands on the wheel or if hands are no longer on the wheel. This can trigger the safety protocol, either to wake up the driver or implement corrective measures.
Original Submission
(Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Thursday July 16 2015, @02:37AM
I started driving truck way back in '83. There was talk then about ways to prevent drivers falling asleep at the wheel. That talk kept making the rounds, and the seemingly most favored idea involved a computer that watches your eyes. Pressure sensing steering wheels seemed to be in second place.
The eye tracking computer seems to be the bestest idea to me - most people's eyes are always moving. Many people's eyes don't move in a manner that is proper for the task, but their eyes are moving. Tired, drowsy people's eyes move less, and move slower. A fixed gaze at some indefinite point over the hood of the vehicle means you're asleep.
The grip on the steering wheel just doesn't cut it. The only time I ever grip the wheel or the handle bars are at rather tense moments. A feather touch on the wheel, or just enough grip on the handlebars to hold the throttle open, is the way I learned. Anything else is fatiguing unless you only drive short distances.
Of course, I don't really want any thing watching me. I'll drive a thirty year old car without the software before I drive a new vehicle with software. Just give me soemthing that produces mechanical power, a minimal and manual drive train, and at least two wheels. Add on the lights required by law, and I'm good to go. No seatbelts required, no airbags, no GPS, I don't even need windows. Music is nice, but today, the stereo seems to be tied into a computer. Ford makes the speakers rumble when you press on the throttle, to make you THINK you have a lot of horsepower. Screw that - I just want the basics. Oh, I missed the news that BMW is doing the same thing - http://www.cnet.com/news/bmw-m5-generates-fake-engine-noise-using-stereo/ [cnet.com]
Tech is great, but let's keep tech where it belongs. It doesn't belong in control of my vehicles.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by captain normal on Thursday July 16 2015, @03:56AM
As someone who has experienced a near tragic accident from falling asleep at the wheel, I can say with certainty that one does not automatically release grip on the steering wheel. I still had a firm grip on the wheel when the shuddering from going off the pavement woke me. The best way to prevent such accidents is to get plenty of sleep the night before and do not drive more than 8 hours in one stretch.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Thursday July 16 2015, @02:28PM
*chuckle*
I won't argue - if eight hours is good for you, stick with it. Not everyone has to cross the continent in three days. :^)
I had a couple scares as young man, due to lack of sleep. The worst scare I ever had involved that crazy concept of "power naps". I was told, "If you get to tired to drive, pull over, and close your eyes for fifteen minutes - you'll feel refreshed, and ready for several hours more driving." That didn't work for THIS skinny-assed hillbilly.
WIth years of experience, I can assert that I'm good for 20 hours behind the wheel, then I lay down and get four hours sleep, wake up, eat a real breakfast, and go for another 20 hours. But, this is draining - 4 days is the limit. Of course, in four days, you have crossed the continent in almost any kitty-corner direction you care to go. (I say "almost" - you're not driving form Miami to Anchorage in four days, or from San Diego to Halifax either.) Other people have their own methods to cover long distances in short periods - this is what worked for me. I could outperform most of the company's team drivers like this.
Today, of course, you can't get away with that crap. Computerized logs, and the truck snitches on you if you're over hours. Hell, I don't even WANT to drive anymore!
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Sunday July 19 2015, @03:14AM
But were you constantly changing your grip?
I think this is a great idea if implemented correctly. Even though I've never fallen asleep at the wheel, on long trips I sometimes space out, which would have drastically lowered my ability to react to sudden events. A gentle prod every now and then that my hands haven't be doing anything and that my mind is wandering would be a live-saver, literally.
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