Anti-Fatigue Software For Construction Drivers

Dominant global construction and mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar is introducing state-of-the-art technology designed to stop accidents attributed to driver fatigue.

Developed by Seeing Machines, the DSS (Driver Safety Solution) system consists of sensors and alarms that monitor drivers' faces and can tell when they're at risk of falling asleep.

It is hoped that following the Driver Safety Solution's roll-out, one source of mining accidents can be eliminated. It also seems very likely that the same technology will see use within the construction industry.

Driver Safety Solution

Already, the Driver Safety Solution has been field-tested by Newmont Mining and BHP Billiton and each firm has expressed satisfaction with it.

A key Driver Safety Solution advantage is that recalibration in between driver shifts isn't required and here's how the system works. Using a camera, the system looks at the size of a driver's pupils, observes his/her levels of blinking and reacts when there is total eye closure. Simultaneously, the camera also keeps track of which way the driver's mouth is facing, so it deduce when he/she isn't looking straight ahead.

The camera is supplemented by an infrared lamp, giving it night-vision qualities and the ability to see beyond the barrier of safety glasses. Other elements of the Driver Safety Solution include a GSP chip and an accelerometer, both of which collect vehicle movement data.

Anti-Driver Fatigue Software

In the presence of this anti-driver fatigue software, if even a tiny amount of sleep occurs, the person responsible hears an alarm and experiences seat vibrations. At the same time, an alert goes out to co-workers who, via a video feed, can observe the situation for themselves.

"Dependent on the organisation's fatigue mitigation policy, they will then decide what to do with the driver", Seeing Machines' chief executive, Ken Kroeger, explained in a statement quoted by the BBC.

"For most mining companies the first incident doesn't result in any communication. The second one will result in a radio call to see if the driver is okay and possibly get them to pull into the fuel depot and get a cup of coffee to help them keep going. And the third incident will result in them being assigned some other tasks instead of driving."

According to study results, the trucking industry is plagued by driver fatigue.
Released in 2011, one particular study suggested sleepiness was responsible for almost five per cent of Brazil's truck crashes, while 'inattention' played a part in nearly half of them.

Image copyright USMC - Courtesy Wikimedia Commons