Railways to launch device to check driver drowsiness
In June, the Railway Board tasked the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) with creating a device capable of assessing train driver alertness by monitoring their eye blink patterns.
According to insiders, the Northeast Frontier Railways to launch device to check driver drowsiness; Sanjay Pandhi calls it ‘futileRailway (NFR) is working on a machine learning-based system that would be able to read drivers’ blinking eyelids and inform them or halt the train if they were feeling tired.
The Railway Board had asked the NFR to create a tool in June that would use an eyeblink to gauge a train driver’s level of awareness.
In the event that a driver becomes distracted for a short while, the gadget, known as the Railway Driver Assistance System (RDAS), will not only sound an alert but also deploy emergency brakes. According to the sources, RDAS will connect with a vigilance control system to activate emergency brakes.
“Trials are ongoing to ensure the device’s correct operation while it is still in the development stage. The NFR technical team is tackling it. We anticipate it being finished in a few more weeks,” a railway source told PTI.
The Railway Board requested that the NFR quicken internal RDAS development in a letter to that organization on August 2. Additionally, it stated that as a pilot project, the gadget would be installed in 20 passenger train engines (WAP7) and goods train engines (WAG9) after it is finished.
After using the system, all zones have been invited to offer input on how well it functions so that, as necessary, it can be improved still more.
The device, according to the Indian Railway Loco Runningmen Organisation (IRLRO), is a “futile exercise” because all fast-moving trains already have systems in place to keep the drivers focused.
“Every high-speed train engine comes with a foot-operated lever (pedal) which a driver needs to hit once every 60 seconds. In case, the driver fails to do so, emergency brakes are applied automatically and the train comes to a halt. The present system is good enough to ensure that the driver is alert,” said IRLRO working president Sanjay Pandhi.
“The device is still in the development stage and trials are on to ensure its proper functioning. The technical team of the NFR is working on it. We hope that it will be ready in another few weeks,” a railway source was quoted saying in the report.The Railway Board has asked all the zones to provide feedback on the Railway Driver Assistance System (RDAS) after using it. This feedback will be used to improve the system if needed.
IRLRO working president Sanjay Pandhi believes that the Railway Driver Assistance System (RDAS) is a futile exercise. He argues that the railways should focus on other things to improve the safety of train operations, such as conducting studies on aspects such as fatigue, running hours, facilities, and rest hours of train drivers, the officer further told.
“I believe RDAS is a futile exercise. If the railways is really serious about the safety of train operations, it should, among other things, conduct studies on aspects such as fatigue, running hours, facilities and rest hours of train drivers.
“In many cases, drivers, including women, do not get any breaks for having food or answering nature’s calls during their over 11-hour duty. If these things are well taken care of, there is no need to have any RADS in engines,” Pandhi said
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