Systems and methods for detecting and alerting a drowsy driver
Systems and methods are provided for detecting and preventing sleep onset in a user. The method can include, for example, monitoring the user's heart rate, establishing a baseline average heart rate over a period of time, establishing a threshold heart rate that is less than the baseline average heart rate, detecting a drop in the user's heart rate below the threshold, and in response to detecting the drop, initiating a sleep prevention program.
1. A method for detecting and preventing sleep onset in a user, comprising:
monitoring the user's heart rate;
establishing a baseline average heart rate over a period of time;
calculating a threshold heart rate based on the baseline average heart rate, wherein the threshold heart rate is less than the baseline average heart rate;
detecting a drop in the user's heart rate below the threshold; and
in response to detecting the drop, initiating a sleep prevention program.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises displaying an alert on a display in a vehicle.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises playing a sound through at least one speaker in a vehicle.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises initiating a verbal-based game with the user.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises initiating a telephone call with a contact of the user.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises conducting a virtual conversation with the user.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises a displaying a light comprising wavelengths between about 450 nm and 495 nm.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing a baseline average heart rate over a period of time comprises averaging the user's heart rate over a span of at least 3 minutes.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reestablishing the baseline average heart rate and recalculating the threshold heart rate, based on the reestablished baseline average heart rate, every 3 minutes.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating a threshold heart rate comprises calculating a value that is 90% of the baseline average heart rate.
11. A system for detecting and preventing sleep onset in a user, comprising:
a heart rate monitor shaped to be worn by the user;
a non-transitory, computer-readable medium that contains instructions;
a processor, communicatively coupled to the heart rate monitor, that executes the instructions to perform stages including:
monitoring the user's heart rate;
establishing a baseline average heart rate over a period of time;
calculating a threshold heart rate based on the baseline average heart rate, wherein the threshold heart rate is less than the baseline average heart rate;
detecting a drop in the user's heart rate below the threshold; and
in response to detecting the drop, initiating a sleep prevention program.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises displaying an alert on a display in a vehicle.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises playing a sound through at least one speaker in a vehicle.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises initiating a verbal-based game with the user.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises initiating a telephone call with a contact of the user.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises conducting a virtual conversation with the user.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein initiating a sleep prevention program comprises a displaying a light comprising wavelengths between about 450 nm and 495 nm.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein establishing a baseline average heart rate over a period of time comprises averaging the user's heart rate over a span of at least 3 minutes.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the stages further comprise reestablishing the baseline average heart rate and recalculating the threshold heart rate, based on the reestablished baseline average heart rate, every 3 minutes.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein calculating a threshold heart rate comprises calculating a value that is 90% of the baseline average heart rate.