Patent ID: 8040247

Claim:
A system for detecting drowsiness in a machine operator, the system comprising: an image acquisition module operable to electronically capture a plurality of facial images of the machine operator; a face localization module having a generic face mesh grid, said face localization module operable to create a neutral face mesh grid by fitting said generic face mesh grid to a desired first captured facial image, said face localization module also operable to create a subsequent face mesh grid by fitting said generic face mesh grid to a desired second captured facial image; a facial orientation module operable to determine a facial variation between a facial orientation parameter of said neutral face mesh grid and a facial orientation parameter of said subsequent face mesh grid; a facial action database having a plurality of stored high priority sleepiness facial actions, said plurality of stored high priority sleepiness facial actions each having an assigned sleepiness severity value; an action estimation module having a comparison algorithm, said action estimation module operable to compare said facial variation with said plurality of stored high priority sleepiness facial actions using said comparison algorithm and select a stored high priority sleepiness facial action that matches said facial variation within a predetermined amount; a matching module operable to identify and select stored high priority sleepiness facial actions that are within a predetermined range of likeness to said identified stored high priority sleepiness facial action; a sleepiness level module operable to compare assigned sleepiness values of all selected stored high priority sleepiness facial actions and generate a probability of a current level of sleepiness; a warning module operable to actuate an actuator as a function of the current level of sleepiness having a highest probability.