Innovative Earbuds Detect Drowsiness to Enhance Road Safety [Video]

Engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have designed a prototype of earbuds that can detect signs of drowsiness in the brain. This innovative technology aims to protect drivers and machine operators from the dangers of drowsiness, a critical hazard contributing to road accidents worldwide. The earbuds function similarly to an electroencephalogram (EEG), a medical test used to evaluate the electrical activity in the brain.

They measure brain waves through built-in electrodes that make contact with the ear canal. While the electrical signals detected by these earbuds are smaller than those in traditional EEGs, the new study shows that the Ear EEG platform is sensitive enough to detect alpha waves. Alpha waves are a pattern of brain activity that increases when drowsiness sets in, making them a reliable indicator of a person’s alertness level.

The inspiration for this technology came to Rikky Muller, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer …