Panasonic's new tech predicts drowsiness level of drivers

Japanese technology major Panasonic Corporation has developed a new technology that detects and predicts a drowsiness level of the person driving a car. 

The technology prevents drowsy driving by measuring the driver's states without physical contact, that includes blinking features and facial expressions, among others, which is captured by an in-vehicle camera, and processes these signals using artificial intelligence. The technology also combines thermal sensation monitoring function, allowing the driver to stay comfortably awake while driving.

The drowsiness-control technology detects shallow drowsiness that even the driver is unaware of by using non-contact measurement of blinking features and facial expressions, among others. This information is collected in-vehicle environment data that predicts transitions in the driver's drowsiness level. It also senses and monitors the driver's level of thermal sensation, allowing the person to stay comfortably awake. 

According to Panasonic, the conventional drowsiness-detection systems had difficulty in predicting transitions in drowsiness. The conventional anti-hypnotic stimulant systems used alarm sounds and vibrations to wake up users, which would make the drivers feel uncomfortable.

The newly developed technology has 22 patents on file, and will be suitable for applications in human- and environment-monitoring systems for use in private and commercial vehicles, offices and educational institutions; drowsiness-prediction systems; and drowsiness-control systems for keeping people awake.