Write a commentA Silverbridge haulage company, Polar International, has been the first local company to review a new device that can detect when drivers are drowsy and alert them. Polar International Ltd has 30 lorries working across Ireland, UK and throughout Europe..
The Driver Drowsiness Detector has been launched by Fujitsu and the unique Internet of Things (IoT) enabled wearable device aims to tackle the estimated 40% of commercial vehicle accidents in the UK which occur due to driver fatigue.
Fujitsu’s Driver Drowsiness Detector is a wearable sensor device that detects when drivers are drowsy. The device is worn round the neck with a small sensor clip attached to the driver’s earlobe which picks up pulse waves. The product which uses a proprietary algorithm developed by Fujitsu, 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 Driver Drowsiness Detector also includes a learning and calibration algorithm meaning an individual’s profile accuracy is improved through continued usage.
In GB, logistics company DHL is already testing the detector in a pilot scheme with 60 of its van and lorry drivers.
Speaking about the wearable technology, Cormac McAvoy, Business Development Manager at Polar International Ltd said;
“Polar International has an extensive fleet of state-of-the-art transport, employing more than 40 people locally. We take the welfare of our drivers very seriously which is why the instant road safety benefits from the Driver Drowsiness Detector is appealing. The data capture element allows you to analyse potential road routes and daily patterns that may contribute to driver drowsiness. Over the last decade, technology has transformed the transport, logistics and freight sector. From location tracking and lane departure equipment to dashcams and digital tachographs, embracing ICT and technology advancements is now part and parcel of safeguarding and advancing your business. Likewise, wearables technology such as the Fujitsu Driver Drowsiness Detector could soon become a firm fixture of the everyday workplace.”
Fujitsu is currently embarking on a roadshow at local business, technology and sectoral events where companies can find out more about the Driver Drowsiness Detector and wearable devices.
