As of this 2022, the European Union put in place so that vehicles with new homologation compulsorily incorporate certain Advanced Driving Assistance Systems, known as ADAS . Among these systems is the fatigue detector. In some passenger cars, such as mid-high range sedans, these types of systems were already beginning to be seen, even as standard. But do you know how it works?
It is a detector that serves to alert the driver
The European Union continues in its efforts to demand that the latest generation vehicles that circulate on the public roads of the continent, from now to the next few years, are increasingly safer . Therefore, now it is the turn of the fatigue and sleep detector.
We are talking about what is one of the latest advanced driving assistance systems to avoid accidents (known as ADAS -Advanced Driving Assistance Systems) and serves to try to reduce the chances of the driver getting lost or sleeping at the wheel.
It’s more; the human factor is behind 93% of accidents, most of which are due to driver distractions on the road, alarming figures for which efforts have been made to design technology aimed at combating fatigue at the wheel. As such, this is part of the rest of the ADAS systems that are mandatory for all vehicles approved as of July 1 .
how it works
In this sense, this system alerts the driver if he loses concentration behind the wheel , either due to fatigue or sleep. In this way, the driver can stop the vehicle until it is in perfect condition to continue driving.
Specifically, the system analyzes the typical behavior pattern of the driver from the beginning of the march. During the journey, it permanently evaluates some data such as the angular velocity of the vehicle’s steering wheel.
Therefore, if the system verifies that the steering maneuvers carried out by the driver differ from the behavior registered at the beginning of the trip, it activates an acoustic, visual or sensory alarm , such as vibration of the steering wheel or seat, which analyzes the level of attention of the driver and act accordingly:
- The steering wheel has a sensor that analyzes the pressure with which the driver holds it. The most advanced models can even analyze hand movements and changes in the direction of the steering wheel.
- Some more advanced systems incorporate a camera that monitors the features of the driver’s face, as well as head and eye movements.
It will detect gestures such as excessive blinking or looking
These systems can operate through a facial recognition camera, which detects gestures such as excessive blinking, gaze direction, head position or tired expressions, among others.
This is something that also affects hearing , so in addition to compromising concentration behind the wheel, fatigue increases reaction time and reduces reflexes, increasing the chances of having an accident. According to the DGT, between 20 and 30% of traffic accidents are related to fatigue at the wheel.
On the other hand, the engine control unit is in charge of controlling the time that the engine has been running . The alert signal is activated after two hours of uninterrupted driving or when it notices symptoms of fatigue. The most advanced systems incorporate a camera to monitor the driver’s face.