The Russian company Neuromatix has presented SleepAlert 2.0, a prototype operating ability monitoring device, and is seeking investment to improve it. The first version of SleepAlert was successfully demonstrated at Innoprom-2017 industrial expo; President Vladimir Putin recommended it as a traffic safety solution after that. Vladimir Statut, co-owner and CEO of Neuromatix, shared the project details with Invest Foresight.
Stay awake while driving
Established in 2013 in St. Petersburg, Neuromatix is 51% owned by Oleg Kuvarzin and 49% by Vladimir Statut. The company is a representative of leading neuro gadget manufacturers, such as NeuroSky and NeuroWear. While working on BCI (brain-computer) neural interface for the gaming environment, the company realized that sounds and mental statuses can be used to avoid road accidents. This is the basic idea behind SleepAlert, an operating ability monitoring device. The system consists of a cap with an electronic unit and a wristband. The frontal part of the cap contains an inbuilt electrode, which receives data on the wearer’s state of health based on bioelectric activity of the brain and superciliary muscles. The system analyzes the data obtained and decides on the degree of user fatigue. When it reaches the critical point, meaning the wearer is about to fall asleep or lose focus on external stimuli, the cap’s service gives a beep, and the wristband starts to vibrate. SleepAlert is primarily designed for drivers, but can be used by power plant operators, security guards, airport traffic controllers, railway workers, etc. – anyone who is forced to perform monotonous work or monitor instruments.
The pilot SleepAlert project was implemented for three months in Veliky Novgorod, where Neuromatix devices were installed in buses transporting children. No accidents happened during the project. The first version of the device cost RUR 9900 ($148); 300 pieces have been sold.
After Vladimir Putin recommended using SleepAlert in passenger operations with the number of passengers of four and higher, Neuromatix, Neurocom and Skytrack started preparing respective amendments to Russian law. An inter-agency working group headed by Presidential Aide Andrei Belousov supported the project which is now being handled by the Ministry of Transport.
Controlling mental state
There are devices similar to SleepAlert in the international and Russian markets. However, Neuromatix succeeded not only in preventing drivers from dozing off behind the steering wheel but also in controlling their mental states.
“Not only do we control any signs of falling asleep and prevent it but we also control mental states. That is, when a driver or a machine operator loses focus of attention on external objects by transferring it to himself. For example, as driving becomes monotonous, the driver may start thinking about vacation, sea, his family, etc. This is when we prompt him out of this state using sound or vibration,” Vladimir Statut says.
Second version
In the second rendition of SleepAlert, all the data is transferred to users’ mobile devices. A special mobile app collects statistics of the person’s movement, state, which is valuable for assessing an employee. In addition to vibration and sound, the user can set up other alerts and adjust the device. The operation time has doubled in SleepAlert 2.0, to 12 to 16 hours. Additionally, SDK code allows integrating the product with third party services and developing software solutions based on SleepAlert. The price of the new version has not been revealed yet but it is expected to be significantly cheaper than the first version due to a different sales model. SleepAlert 2.0 will be offered as an application.
The SleepAlert 2.0 project received a grant-aid from the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises in the amount of around RUR 5 mio ($74.5K) as well as investment from KSI Ventures (the amount remains confidential). The total development expenses stand at around RUR 15 mio ($226.3K). Neurmatix plans to pay off within 18 to 24 months.
By Natalia Kuznetsova