Students win Dh1 million funding boost for technology to save the lives of tired drivers
A million-dirham idea by a pair of Emirati students aimed at saving the lives of tired drivers on the roads could soon become a reality.
Ahmed Al Mansouri, 18, and Khaled Al Dhaheri are developing software to alert motorists when they appear to be falling asleep behind the wheel.
The technology, called We Heart, could be downloaded as a mobile phone application or be installed in vehicles.
The duo received Dh1 million in funding under the Future Medical Stars programme, operated by VPS Healthcare and Al Bayt Mitwahid Association.
Once ready, the software will be linked to a device placed on the rear-view mirror that tracks a driver’s eye movements.
“It scans your face with a camera, and when your eyes are open it doesn’t do anything,” said Mr Al Mansouri, who is going on to study in China.
“When you start blinking [rapidly] and your eyes close, it alerts [you through a loud beep].”
The system will also issue an alert when a driver’s eyes turn away from the road, such as in a scenario where a person’s head tilts as they drift off to sleep.
While similar technologies already exist in high-quality cars, We Heart is being designed for all kinds of vehicles.
“We are focusing on any person who has a vehicle that is not up to date, and [lorry] drivers who drive for long hours and shifts. They are of great interest to us,” said Mr Al Mansouri, an artificial intelligence student.
Pankaj Paul, director of strategy and innovation at VPS, believes the scheme can improve road safety.
“The bottom line is newer cars have the technology that help you drive better, but what about hundreds and millions of cars and lorries on the road that don’t? Drowsiness is one of the biggest challenges for road safety and it exists globally,” Mr Paul said.
The Future Medical Stars team will help the students find potential buyers for the product.
“At first we would like to focus on insurance companies, considering they take on the financial burden of car accidents, so they could introduce it with car insurance packages,” Mr Al Mansouri said.
“We could also sell it as a stand-alone product in electronics shops, and even hospitals.”
Another project being supported by the Future Medical Stars programme seeks to reduce unnecessary hospital visits.
Sultan Al Suwaidi is working on an app, which will be utilised by Burjeel Hospital in Dubai, that tells users if they need urgent medical care.
Users will be able log in and answer basic health questions when feeling unwell or in pain.
After they enter all the necessary information, the app tells them if they need to see a doctor, or if the issue is not serious enough to warrant professional treatment.
The app also provides users with an option to book an appointment with the doctor.