New Delhi (Agency): The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) in India is working on an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based device designed to detect if a train driver is alert. The device monitors the blinking of the driver’s eyes and can sound an alarm or even stop the train if it senses the driver is sleepy, according to sources close to the development.
In June, the Railway Board directed NFR to create a Railway Driver Assistance System (RDAS). The RDAS will sound alerts and apply emergency brakes if a driver appears unalert for a certain period. “The device is still in the development stage, and we hope it will be ready in a few weeks,” said a railway source.
The Railway Board has already encouraged NFR to speed up the RDAS development. Once it’s ready, it will be installed in 20 goods train engines and passenger train engines as part of a pilot project. Feedback will be collected from all zones to improve the system further.
However, the initiative has received criticism from the Indian Railway Loco Runningmen Organisation (IRLRO). The organization’s working president, Sanjay Pandhi, labeled the new system a “futile exercise.” He pointed out that high-speed train engines already have mechanisms to keep drivers alert, such as a foot-operated lever that needs to be pressed every 60 seconds. Failure to do so triggers automatic emergency brakes.
Pandhi further argued that the railways should focus more on aspects like driver fatigue, running hours, and facilities. “Drivers, including women, often have to work for over 11 hours without breaks for food or other needs. If these things are well taken care of, there is no need for new devices like RDAS,” said Pandhi.
The development of this new AI-based system brings attention to broader questions about railway safety and the welfare of train drivers. While technological solutions like RDAS could enhance safety, critics argue that it might not address the root causes of driver inattention, such as long working hours and poor working conditions. As the RDAS device approaches its final testing stages, the debate over its necessity and effectiveness continues to gather steam.