The Hindu Business Line : Infrared device for night drives wins patent

Thiruvananthapuram May 7 Poor traffic sense and deplorable driving habits combined with abysmal condition of roads go to make Kerala a motorist's nightmare.

The threat perception gets further amplified during nights when drivers aim to `beam' each other into submission by blazing away with high-powered headlights. They refuse to `dim' to make way clear for the opposite number, resulting in accidents, injuries and even deaths.

Vehicle manufacturers don't seem unduly perturbed about this `anomaly' and service providers couldn't care less, during sales or after. Even if it has meant leaving a prospective safety glitch unattended, or worse, playing with customers' lives!

The inventors

An enterprising inventor from Malappuram in Kerala is offering a helping hand thanks to a patented technology for automatic lighting and signalling system in vehicles. He claims that this will help bleary-eyed drivers negotiating treacherous road stretches find a safe way home.

According to Mr T.P. Abdul Razak, inventor, and Mr Shanmughan Unni, co-inventor, accidents during night happen largely because drivers do not show the courtesy to dim or dip headlights, resulting in temporary blackout.

Nor are proper signals served to vehicles coming from behind. Drivers also don't keep the right distance and go overboard jumping lanes without assessing room.

Vehicles parked on the kerb or those stalled due to mechanical problems have also been involved in accidents. Ill-lit road tunnels and subways are other accident-prone areas.

One-switch solution

Mr Unni and Mr Razak say the electronic equipment working on their patented technology will offer a `one-switch solution' to all these problems. It makes use of infrared rays and is unaffected by intervening mercury light, fluorescent light or neon lamps.

The technology helps automatically dip/dim, at the right distance, headlights of vehicles approaching from opposite direction. The lights will be set back to original power as the vehicles pass each other.

Those coming from behind will be given a `don't overtake' message in case if there is another one heading in from the opposite direction. If the road is empty, an `OK' message will be promptly beamed.

Drivers will be alerted to `switch themselves on' when there is not sufficient light in the evenings. Similarly, a vehicle trailing another will be given a `there is no room for you, please don't overtake' message if the distance between itself and another cruising just ahead is less than the required to accommodate the aspiring driver.

Messages are flashed with respect to stalled vehicles on roads, whether or not their own lighting/switching conditions are working.

The equipment requires no switches or remote control system and is activated automatically. The inventors are confident that the instrument could be made available for no more than Rs 500 apiece on bulk production. A few parties have made business inquiries, Mr Unni said.

More Stories on : Roadways | IPR | Accidents | Kerala

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Infrared device for night drives wins patent