Important results from the project
The objectives were partially met. The project was to investigate whether heart signals can be used to assess alcohol exposure. Collection of heart signals with radar could not be evaluated, but since the collection was instead done with a heart rate monitor, the project was still able to clearly show that alcohol exposure can be assessed based on heart signals, and that these in combination with camera-based signals have good potential for alcohol detection.
Expected long term effects
The project shows that cardiac signals, especially in combination with camera-based signals, have potential to assess alcohol impairment in real time. In the long term, this could form the basis for multimodal driver monitoring systems, provided that the signals can be collected in a vehicle environment, for example via camera or radar. The technology can thus contribute to fewer alcohol-related traffic accidents and support Vision Zero.
Approach and implementation
Heart rate and camera-based signals were collected in both a car simulator and a real vehicle with sober and drunk drivers, and analyzed to evaluate the potential for alcohol detection. Radar collection could not be carried out as planned due to resource constraints, which affected the schedule and caused the project to be completed earlier than planned. However, with heart rate monitors, most of the questions could be evaluated well.
The project description has been provided by the project members themselves and the text has not been looked at by our editors.
