Embedded ECG Based Real Time Monitoring and Control of Driver Drowsiness Condition

In recent years preventing accidents under drowsiness state has become a major focus for active safety driving. To reduce the accidents rate, it is needed to provide an efficient safety measure. Literature says that, the drowsiness condition of driver is best monitored by using an eye blink sensor (or) fabric electrode (or) ECG Sensor. But by monitoring the drowsiness condition alone, the accidents cannot be avoided, unless vehicle speed is controlled. To overcome this problem, the proposed system is implemented with a handheld hardware model designed with ARM and an embedded electrocardiogram electrode which measures the heart rate of the driver. The electrode is fixed in the right thumb and left index finger of the driver to monitor the drowsiness condition. If the system identifies that the driver is in drowsy state, it follows the sequence of operation like alters the driver by a buzzer, sends a warning signal to the control room, monitor and control the speed of the vehicle by cutting the fuel supply to the engine. In addition to that, the LED fixed at the backside of vehicle alerts the rear vehicles to reduce its speed. The proposed idea verified using Lab VIEW software is also discussed.