Ring and bracelet to wake drivers

Belarusian drivers will not fall asleep while driving. A unique device able to watch people and inform them when they are sleepy has been invented in our country. The know-how is a ring and bracelet which have to be put on a driver’s hand.

Indicators can remember the position of the driver by physical measures of skin. If the driver moves aside in the position of relaxation the device will give out loud signals. If the driver doesn’t press a special button the device turns on alarm signaling and antidazzle light.

According to the Ministry of Transport, about 70 car accidents occur because of drowsiness every year. More then 20 people die and more than 80 are injured in those accidents.

But why the device is produced in Russia where it costs about 540 USD? Why did it happen?

The leading researcher of the interactive systems laboratory of the united engineering institute of the National Academy of Sciences Uladzіmіr Sauchanka says:

“The work started more than 20 years ago. Systems for railway transport were created. After the collapse of the Soviet Union the production continued in Russia. “Great-grandmothers” of the systems we are talking about were made at that time. They were used at railways for more than 10 years.

In the mid 90s we started creating such systems for automobiles. We made a number of models and tried to start their production in Belarus but, unfortunately, we did not manage to do it.

The reasons were limited technical possibilities and necessity to produce all of the system’s components in Belarus”.

According to Mr. Sauchanka, the product is rather power-consuming, and has a unique elemental base, especially in the field of close telemetry. Its processor was made in Japan on demand of a Russian company “Neirocom”.

That is why Moscow continued the project. The device was tested in Belarus at Minsk auto park #2. The deputy head of the park Petr Bakavets says:

“There are people who are “pro”, “contra” and those who abstain. The majority of drivers will be against the device because they would say: “how come I am falling asleep?! I never sleep!” But the device is good for self-control.

Still, drivers who had tested it were not against the new device. They were understating and curious. Drivers never notice when they get drowsy because of the so-called “road mesmerism”.

Tests are not over though. According to Sauchanka, only the first stage is complete:

“We took a sample and tested it. The results were positive. Next will be qualification tests.

From 5 to 10 vehicles will be provided with the device: buses, trucks — and tests will continue, at least Minsktrans hopes so”.

Scientists hope that the implementation of the device will make it more functional in the future.

Now the system is being used at Russian railways and tested by drivers but later it could be implemented in aviation, at chemical enterprises or nuclear power-stations where the human element is crucial.

Photo by valday.com