Drowsiness detection

Can Impedance Spectroscopy serve in an embedded multi-sensor system to improve driver drowsiness detection ... 

Keywords Impedance Spectroscopy Multi-Sensor System Drowsiness Detection... 

Based on embedded pulse rate sensor on steering wheel the low frequency to high frequency ratio of heart rate variation, or say pulse rate, in frequency domain is suggested as an indicator for drowsiness detection in [4]. With predefined Low Frequency band 0.04-0.15 Hz (LF) and High Frequency band 0.15-0.4 Hz (HF) the LF/HF ratio of pulse rate course within a measurement time frame is computed. The mean value of pulse rate is taken up in feature computation as well. 

In our first cut implementation impedance spectroscopy has been investigated with a performance limited impedance converter chip for a potential mass market application. The self-designed embedded IS-sensor has been integrated in DeCaDrive system to improve driver drowsiness detection and to facilitate general driver status monitoring. The experimental results in this work support the hypothesis and confirm the finding that impedance response analysis can improve the effectiveness of driver drowsiness detection. 

L. Li, K. Werber, C.F. Calvillo, et al, Multi-Sensor Soft-Computing System for Driver Drowsiness Detection, in Soft Computing in Industrial Applications, Springer, 2014, pp. 129-140. 

Svensson, U. (2004). Blink behavior based drowsiness detection - method development and validation. Linkoping University Report LiU-IMT-EX-04-369. Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. 

There are several types of drowsiness detection but possible techniques for detecting drowsiness in drivers can... 

Pooneh R. Tabriz and Reza A. Zoroofi, Open/Closed Eye Analysis for Drowsiness Detection , IEEE Image processing Theory, Tools. plications Proceedings (2008). 

Price NJ, Maislin G, Powell JW, Ecker AJ, Szuba MP, Mallis MM, Dinges DF. Unobtrusive detection of drowsiness-induced PVT lapses using infrared retinal reflectance of slow eyelid closures. Sleep 2003 26 A177. 

Exposures of industrial workers to butadiene concentrations of 2000-8000 ppm have been reported to cause eye, skin, and nasal irritation. High butadiene levels may cause CNS depression as evidenced by blurred vision, drowsiness, fatigue, bradycardia, and hypotension. The mildly aromatic odor of butadiene, which can be detected at 1 ppm, serves as a good... 

Acute inhalation exposures may result in irritation of the nasal mucosa and eyes ( 50 ppm), irritation of the skin, and CNS depression (>100 ppm). Symptoms of CNS depression include nausea, drowsiness, and ataxia. The disagreeable odor of styrene, which is detectable at 0.04-0.3 ppm, serves as a good warning aid. However, olfactory fatigue may occur at high concentrations. 

Clonazepam, proprietary name Clonopin, is a benzodiazepine with chemical structure closely related to diazepam. The mechanism of action is the same as described for diazepam, but tolerance does not develop as rapidly as with diazepam. Clonazepam is currently approved for use in absence seizures, infantile spasms, akinetic seizures, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Plasma concentrations associated with maximal effectiveness of the drug range from 15 to 60 ng/mL. At concentrations higher than 80 ng/mL, no additional seizure protection is observed, and toxicity (drowsiness and ataxia) ensues. The most suitable methods adaptable to routine analysis are based on GLC with electron capture detection, although HPLC methods also are effective. ... 

Atropine and scopolamine differ quantitatively in their ability to affect the CNS. Whereas atropine has almost no detectable effect on the CNS in doses that are used clinically, scopolamine has prominent central effects already at low doses. This difference may be due to the greater permeation of scopolamine through the blood-brain barrier. Clinical doses of atropine cause mild excitation. At steadily increasing doses, central excitation is increased, but then central depression follows, leading to circulatory collapse, respiratory failure and coma. This, however, is only of toxicological interest. Therapeutic doses of scopolamine cause a CNS depression manifested by drowsiness, amnesia, fatigue. These effects are utilized to prevent motion sickness and as an adjunct for preanesthetic medication. Tropane alkaloids have also long been used in Parkinsonism, especially before the discovery of levodopa. 

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