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"Microsleep" is defined as a spontaneous reaction of the human organism to over-fatigue. At the onset, the body sends signals designed to tell a person that it is time to stop and get some rest. Although most of us simply ignore them and continue on, the signals are pretty clear. Symptoms include burning eyes, eyes that blink frequently but more slowly, pupils becoming smaller, yawning and shivering. Adding just one second to the time an eye stays closed while blinking in a vehicle traveling 60 mph renders the vehicle driverless for 88 feet.
Mercedes-Benz is working on several different systems to warn drivers of the early stages of microsleep. It is developing systems that monitor the driver's eyes to detect altered blinking patterns. When it does, there will be an audible warning to the driver. There is also a system that monitors driving habits and enters values into an algorithm. When the driver's driving patterns fall out of the calculated range, such as no steering wheel movement for a long period of time, an alarm is triggered.
As the frequency of spending long, monotonous periods of time behind the wheel grows, these systems seem to make more and more sense. Commute times as well as driving vacations are increasing exponentially as the number of vehicles on the road explodes, making these systems more and more necessary to help keep drivers more alert behind the wheel.
[Source: Piston Heads]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gunnar @ Nov 27th 2006 8:17PM
Sounds like another nanny system that will lead us down the road to us being driven one day in communal pods for "our own safety".
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
Jay @ Nov 27th 2006 9:31PM
>Mercedes-Benz is working on several different systems
>to warn drivers of the early stages of microsleep. It
>is developing systems that monitor the driver's eyes
>to detect altered blinking patterns. When it does,
>there will be an audible warning to the driver. There
>is also a system that monitors driving habits and
>enters values into an algorithm. When the driver's
>driving patterns fall out of the calculated range,
>such as no steering wheel movement for a long period
>of time, an alarm is triggered.
These warnings will then be promptly ignored, because if people won't get off the road when their own bodies are telling them they're too tired to drive, they won't do it when the car starts beeping at them.
Opposite Lock @ Nov 27th 2006 9:38PM
It should automatically roll all the windows down, too. It's impossible to fall asleep with the window open at 80mph. Also, Merc should stop making the cars so comfortable, good luck falling asleep in my car...
epp_b @ Nov 27th 2006 10:29PM
Mercedes has come to save us from ourselves!
Mike from Scarborough @ Nov 27th 2006 10:55PM
I agree whith #1's comments,however, an audible alarm isn't bad but,a loud audio clip of Salene Dion would do it also..
epp_b @ Nov 28th 2006 1:02AM
["I agree whith #1's comments,however, an audible alarm isn't bad but,a loud audio clip of Salene Dion would do it also.."]
That would cause accidents, because you'd pull over to the shoulder every time you hear what you think is an ambulance.
Mason @ Nov 28th 2006 2:08AM
Lexus already has this (cough ls460 cough)
Howard Kerr @ Nov 28th 2006 6:21AM
Strange, but SEVERAL years ago Toyota, and maybe one or two other Japanese car companies were working on this. In fact, I thought there was already a product on the market...or at least available, that does/did what this "invention" seeks to do.
By the way, it is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. If M-B is so worried about "driverless" motoring, can we expect them to tackle in-car sneezing next?
tariq @ Nov 28th 2006 11:39AM
"Strange, but SEVERAL years ago Toyota, and maybe one or two other Japanese car companies were working on this. In fact, I thought there was already a product on the market...or at least available, that does/did what this "invention" seeks to do."
which company was that?
i know volvo was doing something like that
Toy Yoda @ Nov 28th 2006 11:59AM
If they can invent a gadget to keep me wide awake and alert at the office while I sit behind my screen, I would love that immensely. Heck, if I can do that myself, I think I'd be a gazillionaire.