Now, a device to monitor drivers

Now, sensors fitted in the driver’s seat will send out alert on whether the driver is fatigued and needs rest.

Co-developed by IIT Madras and Harita Seating, Intelliseat is an Internet of Things (IoT) device that monitors the performance and behaviour of the driver.

Intelliseat operates independently and can be used for in-vehicle information of status and help central tracking by fleet owners.

It can also be used for driver training and fleet risk evaluation, which would eventually have a bearing on the overall fleet insurance and ownership cost, said Venkatesh Balasubramanian, Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras.

It took nearly two years to develop the solution. Along with officials from Harita, a team from IIT Madras translated conceptual work in the lab to a viable solution that can be used in vehicles today. This system will make roads safer and also have an impact on driver benchmarking/training and fleet insurance, he told newspersons.

The sensor will monitor if the driver is sitting in a proper position. If not, it will alert him to change posture.

The sensor first sends an alert to the driver through an audio message, second through vibration (in the seat) and finally through a visual in the dash board, said AG Giridharan, President, Harita Seating.

Balasubramanian said the information from the sensor can be used to warn the driver or to communicate with the fleet operator in real time.

This can help them act swiftly and use the information to benchmark drivers and train them. The solution has been road-tested in commercial vehicles in the South, he added.

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