Tech to monitor drowsiness, enhance safety for mineworkers

Optalert, the developer of an algorithm to quantify deterioration in cognitive brain function due to drowsiness, sought a supporting hardware solution that could be deployed in heavy industrial equipment. The solution needed to operate in remote areas that experience large temperature and humidity volatility and high levels of dust and dirt.

Optalert is a medical technology company using blepharometry (the measurement of blinks) to measure drowsiness, as the company discovered a key biomarker for drowsiness: the connection between brain function and eyelid movement. Optalert’s Eagle Industrial solution was designed specifically for in-field use across the mining and transportation sectors, and enables supervisors and managers to monitor the real-time drowsiness levels of drivers and equipment operators through cloud-based monitoring and reporting services, protecting people and equipment and enhancing safety.

Rugged technology provider Getac has now extended its partnership with Optalert; as a long-time Getac partner, Optalert chose the ZX70 7″ Android tablet to support its Eagle Industrial real-time drowsiness monitoring solution. The tablet was chosen for its reliability in temperatures ranging from -21 to 60°C, while its custom operating system also provides Optalert with heightened security to protect data integrity.

The ZX70 device and customised operating system enable the Eagle Industrial product to be created from an existing hardware device, significantly reducing manufacturing lead times and simplifying the manufacturing process for Optalert. The Getac ZX70 has a powerful core processor, is certified to a MIL-STD 801H 1.8 m drop rating, and is engineered to withstand vibration, dust, liquid, rain, shocks and more, making it a suitable hardware platform for the Eagle Industrial solution.

Scott Coles, CEO of Optalert, said the ZX70’s GPS and cellular and Wi-Fi communication capabilities mean Optalert can provide vital field-generated information to its customers via the Optalert cloud-based data analysis, monitoring and reporting system. “Optalert has seen the impact of Getac rugged devices in the field, proving their longevity and reliability even in challenging environments,” said Coles.

“Getac has a longstanding partnership with Optalert, developing a tailor-made solution that meets the Eagle Industrial’s solution requirements,” added Frank Baldrighi, Business Development Manager, Getac.

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