Are you feeling drowsy while driving? A new artificial intelligence (AI)-based system developed by Mahatma Gandhi University can identify driver fatigue in real-time and send instant alerts to prevent accidents.
For this innovation, the university received a patent from the Indian government. The system, dubbed the “Drowsiness Detection System,'' was developed by Pushpalatha KP, Vineeth Vijayan, and researchers from the Department of Computer Science.
According to the researchers, this mechanism aims to address one of the biggest challenges in road safety: driver fatigue. Use a metric learning architecture to analyze subtle visual cues such as changes in facial expressions and eye movements to identify early signs of sleepiness.
“The system operates in real-time, issuing warnings within milliseconds to warn drivers before fatigue becomes dangerous. Advanced AI technology also helps reduce false alarms and improve accuracy. This invention has great potential for real-world testing across a variety of driving conditions,” they explained.
adaptive module
The next step of the project is to develop an adaptive module that enhances the interaction between driver and vehicle. This allows the system to adjust its response depending on the driver's condition and the surrounding environment, turning drowsiness detection from a simple warning to a smart, proactive accident prevention tool.
The technical excellence of this system has been verified through comparison with multiple international patents, including those in the United States. In recognition of its social importance, it has also received seed funding from Research and Innovation Network Kerala (RINK) under the Kerala Startup Mission.
issued – January 1, 2026 7:48pm IST
