Drowsy driving is a significant contributor to road accidents with existing detection technologies often falling short due to intrusiveness or environmental sensitivity. This thesis presents a non-invasive method for detecting driver alertness using the Humantenna effect: the phenomenon whereby the human body passively couples with ambient 50 Hz electromagnetic fields. By capacitively coupling the human body into a sensor in the vehicle’s steering wheel, grip strength and hand placement can be continuously monitored without requiring any wearable devices.
This project involves experimental validation of the Humantenna effect in a controlled environment, modelling of capacitive coupling as a function of grip strength, and the development of a custom amplifier circuit to condition the signal. Results demonstrate a consistent and measurable relation between grip strength and the amplitude of the 50 Hz signal. An operational amplifier-based configuration was found to be the most suitable for reliable signal conditioning. A functional multi-sensor prototype was developed and evaluated, indicating that the system is suitable for indoor use and scalable for integration into vehicle systems.