Detecting loss of awareness is now possible...

The CRAM™ is a system that detects an operator’s loss of awareness due to fatigue or from performing multiple activities at the same time, for example, driving while on a cell phone.

The CRAM™ can be used in any form of transportation equipment, including; cars, trucks, planes, trains, or marine vessels, as well as used in monitoring environments, such as air traffic control towers.

Once lower levels of alertness are detected, the operator as well as a preselected person or department which is monitoring the CRAM™ systems “real time” data is notified that they need to plan for a rest or reduce the amount of tasks being performed at the same time. The advantage of being informed at the early stages of fatigue or the onset of a lowered awareness state is that it allows the operator enough time to find a safe place to stop and rest, be replaced by someone less fatigued or refocus on the primary task at hand.

By placing a series of optical sensors in front of the operator, the CRAM™ software collects and processes the data needed to determine their level of alertness. There are three levels of alertness which are monitored by the CRAM™ software and generate statuses and/or warnings:

• The first is the full alertness level which means that the operator has full alertness and is operating his motor vehicle, plane, train or marine vessel safely.

• The second stage is the reduced alertness level which is where the operator is now operating in a lowered awareness state. Fatigue is starting to become an issue and a plan to rest or be replaced needs to be initiated. If multitasking is the issue, they need to discontinue the distracting actions and refocus on the task at hand.

• The final and most dangerous stage is the non-operational level; here the operator is technically asleep even if their eyes could still be open. The operator must immediately pull over or be replaced with a more vigilant counterpart.