Center of Gravity Tracker for Operator Fatigue Detection.

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Human Factors
• Occupational Safety

Background:

• Driver fatigue poses significant risks, leading to accidents in heavy machinery operation.
• Current methods for fatigue detection may be invasive or lack precision.
• Operator position, specifically Center of Gravity (CoG), is a potential non-invasive indicator of fatigue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a low-cost system for non-invasively monitoring the Center of Gravity (CoG) of seated heavy machinery operators.
• To enable further research into the correlation between CoG shifts and driver fatigue.

Main Methods:

• Prototyped a research tool utilizing four sensors integrated into a seat's legs to track operator CoG.
• Designed a novel flexure structure to shield load cells from mechanical stresses (shocks, tensile, and shear forces).
• Validated the accuracy and precision of the developed CoG tracking system.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed a low-cost, integrated CoG detection system for seated drivers.
• The flexure structure effectively protected the load cells, ensuring system durability and reliability.
• The system demonstrated accuracy and precision in tracking CoG, laying the groundwork for fatigue research.

Conclusions:

• The developed low-cost CoG detection system is a viable tool for non-invasively monitoring seated operator position.
• This technology facilitates future research into using CoG as a reliable indicator for detecting driver fatigue.
• The system has the potential to enhance safety protocols for heavy machinery operators.