This paper describes a driving simulation study to assess whether it is possible to identify different stages of fatigue by taking into account more than one blinking parameter (eyelid movement type - duration, frequency or percentage of eyelid closure time). Subjects carried out a fixed driving task at different times of day and night and performed an additional auditory vigilance task. The findings showed that eyelid movements were characterised by two different processes; a change of blinking frequency related to change in attention, and a change of blinking duration related to development of fatigue. It was also found that the velocity of a blink was controlled by its amplitude. The eyelid algorithm is able to detect early lapses of alertness. For the covering abstract see ITRD E113725 (C 22328 CD-ROM).
Samenvatting