Systems and methods for detecting and alerting a drowsy driver

1. A method for detecting and preventing sleep onset in a user, comprising:

monitoring a user's heart rate;

establishing a baseline average heart rate for the user 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;

determining that the user's heart rate is below the threshold; and

alerting the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein alerting the user comprises initiating a sleep prevention program.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein initiating the sleep prevention program comprises playing a sound through at least one speaker in a vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein initiating the sleep prevention program comprises initiating a verbal-based game with the user.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein initiating the sleep prevention program comprises initiating a telephone call with a contact of the user.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein initiating the sleep prevention program comprises conducting a virtual conversation with the user.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein initiating the 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 the 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 the 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 wearable heart rate monitor;

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 a 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;

determining that the user's heart rate is below the threshold; and alerting the user.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein alerting the user comprises initiating a sleep prevention program.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein initiating the sleep prevention program comprises playing a sound through at least one speaker in a vehicle.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein initiating the sleep prevention program comprises initiating a verbal-based game with the user.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein initiating the sleep prevention program comprises initiating a telephone call with a contact of the user.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein initiating the sleep prevention program comprises conducting a virtual conversation with the user.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein initiating the 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 the 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.