Development of microcontroller based ambulatory instrument to detect drowsiness

Statistically about 20 percent of traffic accidents are due to drivers' drowsy driving. A number of direct and indirect approaches have been studied on detecting sleep during driving. A direct technique is to analyze EEG signals. A microcontroller based instrument to detect drowsiness is presented. Potential changes in electric field generated by neurons in the brain was acquired and analyzed to detect drowsy state. Various methods of detecting drowsiness and the theory of brainwave activity are discussed. This is followed by instrumentation for acquiring EEG and detection of sleep frequency using Fast Fourier Transform. Results of the design are also included.