FOCUS+ wearable tracks tram driver fatigue

Known as FOCUS+, the wrist-worn device was developed by Edinburgh’s Integrated Human Factors off the back of the Driver Innovation Safety Challenge (DISC), a project led by Edinburgh Trams in conjunction with UKTram and Transport for Edinburgh.

Five biometric sensors continuously monitor the wearer's heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, skin temperature, electrocardiogram, and galvanic skin response, creating a personalised profile over time using machine learning. Once these models have been created, alerts can then be generated to signal where biometric data deviates from its normal baseline.

"We were proud to have been selected to develop this cutting-edge wearable technology as part of the DISC project,” said Neil Clark, CEO of IHF Limited. “FOCUS+ was three years in the making, having evolved using a combination of data analytics, biometrics, and Human Factors-best practice approach to safety.”

Since 2020, FOCUS+ has undergone numerous pilots and design enhancements based on the feedback of UK tram drivers, control room personnel, data scientists, and independent volunteers. Recently, the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) assessed the algorithms that underpin the system, confirming the device operates with 98 per cent accuracy.