Driver Drowsiness Glasses
Ever find yourself dozing off at the wheel? You're not alone, and this problem contributes to countless road accidents worldwide. Fatigued drivers are less aware of their surroundings and have a slower reaction time, leading to dangerous driving behavior. Currently, there is no widely implemented solution for monitoring and improving driver alertness. This project aims to improve road safety and potentially save lives. By using IR sensors to detect eye closure and a buzzer and LCD to alert the driver, the Driver Drowsiness Glasses provide a simple and effective way to help drivers stay safe and alert on the road.
Connection to
Biology
The core function of the Driver Drowsiness Glasses—detecting eye closure—relies on understanding human physiology, particularly how blinking patterns and eye movements change with fatigue. By studying how our bodies respond when we're tired, we were able to design a system that reacts to biological signals in real time. This intersection of biology and technology showed me how engineering solutions can be informed by the human body, and how wearable devices like ours have the potential to improve health and safety by responding directly to biological behaviors.
Generate
Concepts
To effectively determine the specific components for our project, we utilized decision matrices to evaluate our options. We brainstormed several potential solutions to address the design problem, focusing on seven key criteria: Cost, Feasibility, Performance, Reliability, Cleanliness, Complexity, and Testability. Each solution was scored on a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being the lowest and 3 the highest rating. The solution with the highest total score was selected for implementation in the design. By using a decision matrix, we were able to compare the strengths and weaknesses of each concept, gaining valuable insights for our prototypes.
Eye Closure Detection | Cost | Feasibility | Performance | Reliability | Cleanliness | Complexity | Testability | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IR Sensor | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 19 |
Arducam Mini | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 16 |
Ultrasonic Sensor | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
Project Budget
Group Members | Items | Vendor | Item Cost | Number | Total Cost | In Kind or Requested | Status | Notes for teacher (Quantity needed of the item being order) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matthew, Ronir, Caspar | HiLetgo 10pcs IR Infrared Obstacle Avoidance Sensor Module for Arduino Smart Car Robot 3-Wire Reflective Photoelectric for Arduino Smart Car Robot | Amazon | $8.79 | 1 | $8.79 | Requested | Technically only need 1 of 10, comes in pack and want extra for testing | |
Matthew, Ronir, Caspar | Alcohol Gas Sensor - MQ-3 | SparkFun | $5.50 | 1 | $5.50 | Requested | ||
Matthew, Ronir, Caspar | Arduino Uno REV3 [A000066] | Amazon | $27.60 | 1 | $27.60 | In Kind | ||
Matthew, Ronir, Caspar | 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire 40pin Male to Female, 40pin Male to Male, 40pin Female to Female Breadboard Jumper Ribbon Cables Kit Compatible with Arduino Projects | Amazon | $6.98 | 1 | $6.98 | In Kind | ||
Matthew, Ronir, Caspar | 3pcs I2C IIC 1602 LCD Display Module 16x02 LCD Screen Module for Arduino Raspberry Pi | Amazon | $11.99 | 1 | $11.99 | In Kind | ||
Matthew, Ronir, Caspar | DC 5 V Arduino Buzzer Electronic Alarm Magnetic Long Continuous Beep for Arduino (Pack of 20) | Amazon | $8.99 | 1 | $8.99 | In Kind | ||
Matthew, Ronir Caspar | Secure Fit Clear Anti-Fog Eyewear | Home Depot | $8.98 | 1 | $8.98 | In Kind |
Circuit Design
We designed our circuit on TinkerCad, which allowed us to easily replicate our design and test our circuit in a virtual environment. We used an Arduino Uno and a 16x2 LCD in our original circuit, though we eventually transitioned to using an Arduino Nano and an OLED LCD for a sleeker and more lightweight design.
Programming
I specialized in the programming aspect of the project and was responsible for writing the code. I used PlatformIO within Visual Studio Code, which provided seamless integration with Git for version control. This setup allowed me to freely experiment with new ideas, knowing I could easily revert any mistakes.
Project Video
Construct and Test Prototypes
Initial circuit with everything including the IR sensor on the breadboard
Top down view of the entire circuit with one IR sensor for each eye attached to the glasses
My fellow group member Matthew testing the assembled glasses, buzzer makes a sound every time either IR sensors detects a blink
Evaluate & Present Solution
We presented our project at the 2025 GBS Maker Faire, where we had the opportunity to test it with a large and diverse group of people for the first time. This experience provided valuable insight into how we could improve our design. One issue we hadn’t anticipated was the variation in eye shape and size. Since the glasses were calibrated to my eyes, the project worked reliably for users with similar features. However, the IR sensors struggled with others—failing to detect eye closures in people whose eyes were deeper set, and incorrectly registering closures when users’ eyes were wide open. Interestingly, many attendees suggested adding a feature to deliver a small shock to users who start dozing off. While this idea raises clear ethical and safety concerns, it's an intriguing concept we'll consider for future iterations.
Positive Features | Areas of Improvement |
|---|---|
Loud buzzer alerts user | Should consider shocking users |
Reliable and aesthetically pleasing OLED LCD | Attached to breadboard, not glasses |
Consistent and reliable for some people | Needs to account for variety of eye shapes |
Small and Lightweight | Mess of wires, could consider bluetooth |
Conclusion
Through this project, I gained valuable experience in both technical skills and collaborative problem-solving. From designing and building circuits to writing and debugging code in PlatformIO, I was able to apply my knowledge in a meaningful way while learning how to adapt to real-world challenges—like user variability and hardware limitations. Presenting at the GBS Maker Faire gave me a chance to see how our work could impact others and highlighted areas for improvement that we hadn’t considered before. Although our prototype isn’t perfect, I’m proud of what we accomplished and excited by the potential to further develop this idea into something even more reliable and accessible.