ONE of the north’s largest ICT companies Fujitsu has launched a unique Internet of Things-enabled wearable device which aims to tackle the estimated 40 per cent of commercial vehicle accidents in the UK which occur due to driver fatigue.
Its driver drowsiness detector is a wearable sensor device that detects when drivers are drowsy. It is worn round the neck with a small sensor clip attached to the driver’s earlobe which picks up pulse waves.
The product uses a proprietary algorithm developed by Fujitsu which monitors the driver’s pulse via the sensor and gauges drowsiness levels and notifies the driver if there is a risk of impairment to reaction times.
The device alerts the driver via vibrations on part of the device worn around the neck and can be linked to fleet-management systems so managers can monitor the conditions of their drivers in real time and provide support based on the data collected.
The detector also includes a learning and calibration algorithm meaning an individual’s profile accuracy is improved through continued usage.
Logistics company DHL is already testing the detector in a pilot scheme with 60 of its van and lorry drivers while Newry-based Polar International,which has a fleet of 30 lorries travelling across Ireland, Britain and Europe, is one of the first Northern Ireland companies to review the device.
Its business development manager Cormac McAvoy said: “We take the welfare of our drivers very seriously, which is why the instant road safety benefits from this device is so appealing.
"The data capture element allows you to analyse potential road routes and daily patterns that may contribute to driver drowsiness. Technology from location tracking and lane departure equipment to dashcams and digital tachographs, has transformed the transport, logistics and freight sector, and wearables technology such as the Fujitsu driver drowsiness detector could soon become a firm fixture of the everyday workplace.”
Fujitsu regional chief technology officer Mark Maguire added: “With almost 6,000 licensed freight operators in Northern Ireland – an increase of 180 per cent since 2011 - and almost 110,000 commercial vans registered here, our roads are the important arteries for many local businesses.
"This cutting-edge technology is a simple but effective way to help protect drivers, pedestrians and other road users from the dangers of falling asleep at the wheel while providing businesses with a tool that can help them optimise their routes.”
