T-TRIID Final Report – Smart Eye for Driver

“Smart Eye for Driver” (SED) is a camera based solution that generates an audio alert when it detects a driver is sleepy or distracted. SED contributes to reducing road crashes, increasing the safety of drivers, passengers and the public, often the innocent victims of road crashes.
Every year millions of crashes occur due to drivers falling asleep and being distracted by a mobile phone or passengers in the car, truck or bus. Some detection devices are available such as physiological sensors based solutions, but drivers find these systems uncomfortable to wear and their detection accuracy is too variable. The costs of other technologies based on steering pattern and lane detection are also costly for use in low-income countries. Hence, SED aims to produce a simple, affordable and user-friendly device.The SED proof of concept prototype has been developed with driver and government consultation and tested. Feedback from a questionnaire targeting car and bus drivers helped shape the prototype parameters and match driver requirements. Testing for detecting sleepiness and distraction in day and night conditions resulted in an accuracy of 89.71%.

In partnership with iFahja Consulting (the local SME partner in Pakistan), contacts have been established with interested stakeholders and potential distributors. These contacts will shape further design and development of SED in live traffic scenarios followed by technology validation and product commercialisation.

A business plan is foreseen for commercialisation of SED at a price of £100 approximately (without taxes). The first phase will target the Aftermarket, which is perceived as the least risky and a lower cost route. The preferred business model is Business-to-Business (B2B), however, a combination of B2B and Business-to-Consumers (B2C) could be adopted. This approach will be facilitated by using our popular Facebook page “Chill Life” in helping to penetrate the B2C market faster and to generate a positive cash flow.

In parallel, SED technology will be demonstrated to end users in Trade Associations at exhibitions and disseminated to road safety and environmental organisations to seek endorsement for promoting SED benefits. These benefits include local job creation and income generation, but more importantly reduce road crashes thereby saving lives and reducing injuries.