SafeDrivingBuddy

Inspiration

Our inspiration for Safe Driving Buddy came from experiencing drowsiness while driving and seeing the alarming statistics about fatigue related accidents. With over 250,000 people struggling to stay awake while driving every day in the US, and the tragic impact these accidents have, we knew there had to be a way to address this problem. This drove us to create a solution that could help prevent these accidents and save lives.

What it does

Safe Driving Buddy monitors your heart rate through a smartwatch to detect drowsiness while driving. If your heart rate drops by 10% or more, indicating possible drowsiness or microsleep, the app triggers an alert sound to warn you. The demo allows you to adjust heart rate, and when it falls below the threshold, the alert system activates. It also uses the Google Maps API to display nearby rest areas, with plans for future personalized suggestions based on how you’re feeling.

How we built it

We built Safe Driving Buddy using a tech stack that includes React, JavaScript, and various APIs. React helped us create an interactive user interface, while JavaScript allowed us to handle heart rate monitoring and triggering alerts. We used the Google Maps API to display nearby rest areas based on the user’s location. This tech stack provided a solid foundation to build a smooth and responsive experience for the user.

Challenges we ran into

For some of us, it was our first time working with React, which presented a steep learning curve. We faced challenges with deployment, particularly with the sound functionality not working as expected. Getting everything to work smoothly, especially in the deployment phase, was difficult, but we eventually overcame these issues through testing and troubleshooting.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud to have researched Safe Driving Buddy as solution which has potential to make a huge impact on road safety. By using research-driven alert sounds and real-time heart rate monitoring, we are providing a solution that can genuinely help prevent drowsy driving accidents and we are proud to have working demo to showcase.

What we learned

Through this project, we learned the power of monitoring heart rate to detect drowsiness in real-time. We also learned how customized alert sounds, designed with specific frequencies backed by research, can help promote alertness. Additionally, we realized that by using existing smartwatch technology, we could offer a more accessible, cost-effective, and privacy-conscious solution compared to alternatives like facial recognition hardware.

What's next for SafeDrivingBuddy

We plan to enhance Safe Driving Buddy by:

1- Advanced Monitoring: Improve heart rate analytics for more accurate fatigue detection. 2- Personalized Recommendations: Introduce AI driven suggestions for rest stops, food, and emergency help based on user feeling. 3- Device Integration: Expand compatibility with more wearable devices.