Intelligent monitoring system for driver's alertness (A vision based approach)

Abstract

International statistics shows that a large number of road accidents are caused by driver fatigue. Therefore, a system that can detect oncoming driver fatigue and issue timely warning could help prevent many accidents, and consequently save money and reduce personal suffering. The authors have made an attempt to design a system that uses security camera that points directly towards the driver's face and monitors the driver's eyes in order to detect fatigue. If the fatigue is detected a warning signal is issued to alert the driver. The authors have used the skin color based algorithm to detect the face of the driver. Once the face area is found, the eyes are found by computing the horizontal averages in the area. Once the eyes are located, measuring the distances between the intensity changes in the eye area determine whether the eyes are open or closed. A large distance corresponds to eye closure and small distance corresponds to eye open. If the eyes are found closed for 5 consecutive frames, the system draws the conclusion that the driver is falling asleep and issues a warning signal. The algorithm is proposed, implemented, tested, and found working satisfactorily. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.