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.