Developing vehicle-based advanced warning countermeasures for driver fatigue

Funding: 2003: $90,000
2004: $90,000
2005: $90,000

Project Member(s): Lal, S.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Linkage Projects)
Compumedics Ltd

Start year: 2003

Summary: Driver fatigue is a major problem in Australia in terms of health, road safety and economic impact. Countermeasures to combat the influence of driver fatigue have been limited to public campaign strategies like resting every 2 hours. There has been little robust research on developing on-road countermeasures that could warn the driver of their fatigue status. This proposed project involves a collaboration with Compumedics Ltd, a leading medical device company, to conduct sophisticated research into developing an EEG and wheel behaviour fatigue countermeausure. We will further explore EEG and wheel behaviour patterns associated with fatigue, investigate noise control strategies, and conduct laboratory and on road field trials of the fatigue monitor. If this device is able to assess fatigue reliably and warn drivers in sufficient time to avert accidents, then substantial economic and social benefits will occur.

Keywords: driver fatigue electroencephalography signal processing noise artefact countermeasures driver behaviour

FOR Codes: Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology), Signal Processing, Biosensor Technologies, Behaviour and health, Road safety, Medical instrumentation, Industrial Biotechnology Diagnostics (incl. Biosensors), Medical Instruments, Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology), Behavioural neuroscience

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.