Simulator study of the effects of cruise control, secondary task, and velocity-related measures on driver drowsiness and drowsiness detection

This study was conducted in an attempt to improve drowsiness detection in automobiles by examining velocity-related measures. These measures were also included in multiple regression-generated drowsiness detection algorithms to determine their contribution to detection accuracy. In addition, the effects of cruise control and an auditory secondary task on the level of drowsiness and driving performance were examined. Twelve volunteers from the Blacksburg, Virginia area were used as subjects. In the early morning hours after sleep deprivation, subjects drove a moving base automobile simulator, during which time physiological and performance measures were gathered. Data analysis revealed that velocity-related measures can be good indicators of drowsiness when subjects are without external stimulation, but otherwise, these measures are fairly weak indicators of drowsiness. Similarly, the addition of velocity-related measures to drowsiness detection algorithms proved to be quite modest. Finally, there was no significant main effect of either cruise control or secondary task on drowsiness or driving performance.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Industrial and Systems Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Industrial and Systems Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1994

Author dc:creator

• Kirn, Christopher Lyons

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/110181

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/110181