Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention generally relates to a system for controlling the operation of a vehicle. More particularly, the system relates to detecting alcohol concentration of a rider of a vehicle and controlling the operation of the vehicle to ensure rider’s safety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Two-wheeler accidents amount a significant number among the road accidents, leading to death or permanent disability sustained by rider and/or pillion riders in such incidents. One of the main causes of death in these accidents have been observed to be the head injury to riders. The risk of death as well as the risk of head injury may largely be reduced only if the riders wear helmets while riding the vehicle.
[003] It has been observed that many riders view helmets as bothersome and often choose not to wear them, either due to negligence or inconvenience. This trend still persists despite the existence of strict laws that essentially mandate riders to wear helmets, and additional stringent regulations/penalties being enforced against violators. Therefore, requirement lies to have a system that can identify whether riders are wearing helmets and notify them suitably if they are not, aiming to enhance rider’s safety.
[004] It has also been observed that driving under the influence of alcohol has a significant impact on both riders and/or pillion riders as well as other individuals sharing the road. For riders, maintaining an alert and responsive brain is crucial for quick reactions to approaching road obstacles or surrounding vehicles to have an effective vehicle control therefor. The consumption of alcohol negatively influences the rider’s brain in various ways, impeding its capacity to ride a vehicle with optimum control. This impairment manifests through delayed reaction times, sluggish reflexes, compromised vision, impaired color perception, and reduced night vision. Also, the intoxicated riders are more prone to make judgment errors. Additionally, alcohol slows down the movement of eye muscles, altering visual perception which also hampers the ability to track, making it challenging to accurately assess the positions of other vehicles on the road.
[005] Existing alcohol consumption detection systems require a separate device utilized by authorities to monitor instances of drunken driving. However, such system lacks the capability to alert or prevent the rider before they initiate the driving and thus of no use in preventing the accidents unless the rider is intercepted by these authorities. Integrating an alcohol detection mechanism into the helmet has been observed to be more beneficial in enhancing road safety. Nevertheless, the existing configuration of these systems involve complex network components with requirement of multiple sensors, processors, and a control unit which results into making system more complex and diminishes the overall reliability of these systems. Additionally, the cost of these systems is higher owing to extensive requirement of multiple sensors and controllers. Moreover, these existing systems fall short in addressing the modulation of vehicle operations effectively based on the level of intoxication.
[006] Thus, there is a need in the art for a system or device which can address at least the aforementioned problems/drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[007] In one aspect, the present invention is directed towards a system for controlling a vehicle operation. The system includes one or more sensors adapted to be attached to a headgear wearable by a rider of a vehicle. The one or more sensors is configured to detect an alcohol concentration of the rider when the headgear is worn by the rider of the vehicle. A control unit is operably connected to the one or more sensors and the vehicle. The control unit is configured to receive a data from the one or more sensors in real-time. The control unit is configured to compare the detected alcohol concentration of the rider with a predetermined alcohol concentration range. The control unit is configured to control the vehicle to inhibit engine ignition if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range.
[008] In an embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to send an alert signal to the rider on a rider interface device and/or send an audio warning signal if the headgear is not worn by the rider.
[009] In an embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to alert the rider on the rider interface device and/or send an audio warning if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range.
[010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the headgear includes a shell having a shell exterior and a shell interior. The headgear also includes a visor connected to the shell.
[011] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the shell interior of the headgear is configured to receive the control unit.
[012] In another embodiment of the invention, the one or more sensors is a Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor.
[013] In an embodiment of the invention, the control unit is a microprocessor.
[014] In another aspect, the present invention is directed towards a method for controlling a vehicle operation. The method includes the step of detecting, by one or more sensors, an alcohol concentration of the rider when a headgear is worn by a rider of a vehicle. The method further includes the step of receiving, by a control unit, data from the one or more sensors in real-time. The method further includes the step of comparing, by the control unit, the detected alcohol concentration of the rider with a predetermined alcohol concentration range. The method further includes the step of controlling, by the control unit, the vehicle to inhibit engine ignition if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range.
[015] In an embodiment of the invention, the method includes the step of alerting, by the control unit, the rider, if the headgear is not worn by the rider; and/or the method further includes the step of sending, by the control unit, an audio warning, if the headgear is not worn by the rider.
[016] In an embodiment of the invention, the method includes the step of alerting, by the control unit, the rider on a rider interface device if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range; and/or the method further includes the step of sending, by the control unit, an audio warning, if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range.
[017] In an embodiment of the invention, wherein the headgear includes a shell having a shell exterior and a shell interior. The headgear also includes a visor connected to the shell.
[018] In an embodiment of the invention, wherein the shell interior of the headgear is configured to receive the control unit.
[019] In another embodiment of the invention, the one or more sensors is a Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor.
[020] In an embodiment of the invention, the control unit is a microprocessor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[021] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system for controlling a vehicle operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplary headgear, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 is a flow diagram illustrating method steps for controlling a vehicle operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating method steps for detection of human skin surface of a rider of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the method steps for detection of alcohol concentration of the rider, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[022] Various features and embodiments of the present invention here will be discernible from the following further description thereof, set out hereunder.
[023] Figure 1 illustrates a system 100 for controlling a vehicle operation. Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of a headgear 108, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In the ensuing exemplary embodiments, a vehicle denoted by a numeral 114 is a two wheeled vehicle. However, it is contemplated that the disclosure in the present invention may be applied to any automobile like a scooter or any other saddle type vehicle capable of accommodating the present subject matter without defeating the scope of the present invention.
[024] Referring to Figures 1, 2, the system 100 includes a headgear 108 which is worn by a rider of the vehicle 114. The headgear 108 includes a shell 150 which is configured to fit on a human head. The shell 150 has a shell exterior (not shown) and a shell interior (not shown). Further, a visor 155 is connected to the shell 150. One or more sensors 102 are adapted to be attached to the headgear 108 wearable by a rider of a vehicle 114.
[025] In an embodiment, the one or more sensors 102 is disposed in at least one of a forehead area and an ear lobe area of the shell interior of the headgear 108.
[026] In a non-limiting example, the one or more sensors 102 is a Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. The PPG sensor 102 is disposed in vicinity of a middle portion of the rider’s forehead and attached in the shell interior of the headgear 108 in such a way that it contacts/ touches the middle portion of the rider’s forehead. The PPG sensor 102 may also be attached in the shell interior of the headgear 108 in such a way that it contacts the ear lobe area. The PPG sensor 102 is non-invasive and uses a light source and a photodetector at the surface of human skin to measure variation in blood circulation.
[027] In another non-limiting example, the one or more sensors 102 may include, but not limited to, alcohol-specific gas sensors, electrochemical sensors, or other types of sensors that can detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with alcohol.
[028] In an embodiment, the headgear 108 may include an audio unit 106. The audio unit 106 is configured to receive an audio file. The audio unit 106 includes a speaker to play the audio file.
[029] Referring back to Figure 1, the system 100 further includes a control unit 104 which is operably connected to the one or more sensors 102 and the vehicle 114. The control unit 104 is disposed in the shell interior of the headgear 108. In an alternate embodiment, the control unit 104 may be disposed on the vehicle 114 or in a communication device (not shown) which may be communicably coupled to the headgear 108. In a non-limiting example, the control unit 104 is a microprocessor. The control unit 104 is configured to receive a data from the one or more sensors 102 in real-time.
[030] In an embodiment, the data received by the control unit 104 relates to detection of human skin surface by the one or more sensors 102. In an embodiment, the one or more sensor 102 detect the presence of skin when a headgear 108 is worn by the rider of the vehicle 114. The data received by the control unit 104 includes data related to alcohol concentration found in the blood of the rider which is detected by the one or more sensors 102. The one or more sensors 102 are configured to detect an alcohol concentration of the rider when the headgear 108 is worn by the rider of the vehicle 114.
[031] In an embodiment, the control unit 104 is configured to compare the detected alcohol concentration of the rider with a predetermined alcohol concentration range. The predetermined alcohol concentration range is stored in a memory unit (not shown).
[032] In an embodiment, a baseline of various alcohol levels is set that is individually customized for each user. First time calibration is done for each individual as the alcohol level of getting high may be different from one person to another person. In an embodiment, the control unit 104 segments the PPG signal received from the PPG sensor into relevant time intervals (e.g., before and after alcohol consumption). Further, the control unit 104, normalizes and cleans the data to remove noise and artifacts using filtering and denoising techniques. The control unit 104 extracts meaningful spatial features from the PPG signals. Such meaningful features capture the physiological changes associated with alcohol consumption. In a non-limiting example, the features include heart rate variability (HRV) metrics, Frequency domain features (e.g., power spectral density), Time domain features (e.g., mean, variance), Amplitude and phase information, and Waveform morphology characteristics which may be done using a 2D CNN (Convolutional Neural Network). A 2D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is a deep learning architecture commonly used for processing spatial data, such as images. In the context of extracting meaningful spatial features from PPG (Photoplethysmography) signals, the 2D CNN is utilized to capture patterns and relationships in the data. PPG signals are typically represented as time-series data, where the amplitude of the signal is recorded over time. The 1D PPG signal is converted into a 2D representation which is achieved by considering the signal amplitude over time as one axis and representing different segments or features of the signal along the other axis. Further, an input representation is designed which is suitable for the 2D CNN which involves creating a spectrogram or image-like representation of the PPG signal. The spectrogram can be generated by applying a Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) or similar techniques, converting the time domain signal into a frequency-time representation. A 2D CNN architecture suitable for processing the input representation is created. The architecture typically includes convolutional layers, pooling layers, and fully connected layers. Convolutional layers are responsible for learning spatial hierarchies and patterns, while pooling layers reduce the spatial dimensions and retain important information. Convolutional layers consist of filters (kernels) that slide over the input data to extract local patterns. In the context of PPG signals, these filters can capture features such as the shape of the waveform, variations in amplitude, and patterns associated with heart rate changes. Activation functions, such as ReLU (Rectified Linear Unit) is applied to introduce non-linearity and enhance the network's ability to capture complex patterns in the data. The 2D CNN is trained by using a labelled dataset, where the labels correspond to the physiological changes associated with alcohol consumption. Thus, a 2D CNN processes PPG signals by converting them into a suitable input representation and leveraging convolutional layers to learn spatial features associated with alcohol consumption. The trained model can then be used to make predictions based on new PPG data. The spatial features capture aspects of the signal's shape, amplitude, and other characteristics. For accurate alcohol level detection, changes in the PPG signal are captured that can be identified by alterations in heart rate or waveform shape. The trained neural network model passes this information via the dense layers for classification. After the 2D CNN processes the PPG signals and extracts meaningful spatial features, the next step is to pass this information through dense layers for classification. The dense layers are fully connected layers that aggregate the spatial features learned by the CNN and transform them into a form suitable for the final classification task.
[033] Before passing the information to the dense layers, the output from the last convolutional or pooling layer is typically flattened. This involves reshaping the 2D data into a 1D vector. The flattened output is then passed through one or more dense (fully connected) layers. The dense layers consist of nodes (neurons) where each node is connected to every node in the previous and next layers. These connections are assigned weights that are learned during the training process. Activation functions (e.g., ReLU) introduce non-linearity, allowing the neural network to capture complex relationships in the data. The last dense layer is typically connected to the output layer, which is responsible for producing the final classification predictions. For alcohol detection, the output layer might consist of a single node (for binary classification) or multiple nodes (for multi-class classification), depending on the desired output. The dense layers play a crucial role in transforming the spatial features extracted by the CNN into a format suitable for classification. These layers aggregate information, introduce non-linearity, and produce the final predictions based on the learned representations.
[034] In an embodiment, the control unit 104, annotate the dataset with labels and categorize the dataset indicating the level or presence of alcohol consumption for each data segment (e.g., "sober," "mildly intoxicated," "heavily intoxicated"). Based on the category of the alcohol intoxication, the control unit 104 determines the action signal to be sent to the vehicle. For example, if the rider has consumed the alcohol for instance, a cough syrup or other ways, but the alcohol toxicity in blood is less than the regulatory requirement, in such cases the control unit 104 allows the vehicle to start. In another embodiment, one or more vehicle parameters such as vehicle speed/riding mode may be controlled, and an alert signal may be sent on the rider interface device 110.
[035] If the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range, the control unit 104 is configured to control the vehicle 114 to inhibit engine ignition. In an embodiment, the control unit 104 inhibit engine ignition by turning OFF ignition key if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range.
[036] In an exemplary embodiment, if the predetermined alcohol concentration range is between a specific range, certain features are controlled as per below table.
Sl. No. Pre-set Alcohol Threshold in BAC (Blood alcohol content) percentage Controlling features of the vehicle
1 0.2-0.4 • Maximum 60 kmph speed of vehicle is permitted. In such case, the throttle opening may be controlled by Engine Control Unit to limit the speed.
• ABS (Anti-lock braking system) is activated with safest brake settings (Automatically the safest ride mode is selected).
2 0.4-0.6 • Maximum 50 kmph vehicle speed is permitted.
• Headlamp only in low beam mode is allowed.
• Hazard lamp is disabled.
• ABS in safest brake setting enabled.
• Traction control minimum intervention
• DND (Do not disturb) mode of connected services is enabled.
• Voice assistance is permitted.
3 0.6-0.8 • Maximum 30kmph vehicle speed is permitted.
• ABS system is configured to safest brake setting.
• Traction control is set to maximum.
• Hazard lamps are enabled automatically.
• Head lamp is configured to glow only in low beam operation (since high beam might be an irritant to the other vehicle users)
• DND mode of connected services is enabled.
• Voice assistance is permitted.

[037] In an embodiment, the control unit 104 is configured to alert, the rider on the rider interface device 110 and/or send an audio warning if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range.
[038] In an embodiment, if the headgear 108 is not worn by the rider, the control unit 104 is configured to control the vehicle 114 to inhibit engine ignition. In an embodiment, the control unit 104 inhibit engine ignition by turning OFF ignition key if the headgear 108 is not worn by the rider.
[039] In an embodiment, the control unit 104 is configured to send an alert signal to the rider on a rider interface device 110 and/or send an audio warning signal if the headgear 108 is not worn by the rider. In an embodiment, alert signal is a message displayed on the rider interface device 110. In an embodiment, audio warning signal can be given on an audio unit 106 of the headgear 108 or on the rider interface device 110 or on an external audio unit 112.
[040] Figures 3 is a method flow diagram for controlling a vehicle operation, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. At step 302, one or more sensors 102 detect an alcohol concentration of the rider when a headgear 1068 is worn by a rider of a vehicle 114. At step 304, a control unit 104 receives data from the one or more sensors 102 in real-time. At step 306, the control unit 104 compares the detected alcohol concentration of the rider with a predetermined alcohol concentration range. At step 308, the control unit 104 controls the vehicle 114 to inhibit engine ignition if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range. In an embodiment, the control unit 104 alert the rider, and/or send, an audio warning, if the headgear is not worn by the rider.
[041] Figure 4 illustrates a method flow diagram for detection of human skin surface, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. At step 402, the control unit 104 receives data related to detection of human skin surface by the one or more sensors 102. At step 404, the control unit 104 process the data received from the one or more sensor to detect the presence of skin when a headgear 108 is worn by the rider of the vehicle 114. At step 406, if the headgear 108 is not worn by the rider and the ignition Key is OFF, the control unit 104 is configured to send an audio warning signal to the external audio unit 112. At step 408, if the headgear 108 is not worn by the rider and the ignition Key is ON, the control unit 104 is configured to send an alert signal to the rider on a rider interface device 110 and/or send an audio warning signal to headgear audio unit 106. Further, at step 410, the control unit 104 is configured to control the vehicle 114 to inhibit engine ignition by turning OFF ignition key if the headgear 108 is not worn by the rider and the ignition Key is ON.
[042] Figure 5 illustrates a method flow diagram for detection of alcohol concentration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. At step 502, the control unit 104 receives data related to alcohol concentration found in the blood of the rider which is detected by the one or more sensors 102. At step 504, the control unit 104 compare the detected alcohol concentration of the rider with a predetermined alcohol concentration range. At step 406, if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range and the ignition Key is OFF, the control unit 104 is configured to send an audio warning signal to the external audio unit 112. At step 408, if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range and the ignition Key is ON, the control unit 104 is configured to send an alert signal to the rider on a rider interface device 110 and/or send an audio warning signal to headgear audio unit 106. Further, at step 410, the control unit 104 is configured to control the vehicle 114 to inhibit engine ignition by turning OFF ignition key if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range and the ignition Key is ON.
[043] Advantageously, the present invention provides a system which can detect if the rider is wearing a headgear and detect an alcohol concentration in the rider’s body. The present invention improves rider safety by minimising risks associated with riding the vehicle without proper headgear wearing. The present invention provides an improved headgear detection method and also improves overall rider comfort and riding experience. The present invention also ensures increased safety of other vehicles and pedestrians on the road. The present invention discourages driving under alcohol influence and increased adherence to traffic rules. Further, unlike existing prior arts which are only limited to detection of alcohol levels, the present invention condition vehicle operation based on the level of alcohol concentration range. Furthermore, the present invention decreases reliability of the overall system owing to dependency on multiple components such as sensors, controllers, etc. Hence, reduces costs also due to less number of sensors used. The system of the present invention has a simpler configuration and can be adapted/ integrated easily with the vehicles.
[044] In light of the abovementioned advantages and the technical advancements provided by the disclosed method and system, the claimed steps as discussed above are not routine, conventional, or well understood in the art, as the claimed steps enable the following solutions to the existing problems in conventional technologies. Further, the claimed steps clearly bring an improvement in the functioning of the system itself as the claimed steps provide a technical solution to a technical problem.
[045] Furthermore, one or more computer-readable storage media may be utilized in implementing embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. A computer-readable storage medium refers to any type of physical memory on which information or data readable by a processor may be stored. Thus, a computer-readable storage medium may store instructions for execution by one or more processors, including instructions for causing the processor(s) to perform steps or stages consistent with the embodiments described herein. The term “computer-readable medium” should be understood to include tangible items and exclude carrier waves and transient signals, i.e., be non-transitory. Examples include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, hard drives, CD ROMs, DVDs, flash drives, disks, and any other known physical storage media.
[046] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

List of Reference Numerals
100 - System
102 – Sensors
104 – Control unit
106 – Audio unit
108 – Headgear
110 – Rider Interface Device
112 – External audio unit
114 – Vehicle
116 – Ignition unit
150 – Shell
155 - Visor
500 - Method

, C , Claims:1. A system (100) for controlling a vehicle operation, the system (100) comprising:
one or more sensors (102) adapted to be attached to a headgear (108) wearable by a rider of a vehicle (114), the one or more sensors (102) being configured to detect an alcohol concentration of the rider when the headgear (108) is worn by the rider of the vehicle (114); and
a control unit (104) being operably connected to the one or more sensors (102) and the vehicle (114), the control unit (104) being configured to:
receive a data from the one or more sensors (102) in real-time;
compare the detected alcohol concentration of the rider with a predetermined alcohol concentration range; and
control the vehicle (114) to inhibit engine ignition if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range.

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (104) being configured to send an alert signal to the rider on a rider interface device (110) and/or send an audio warning signal if the headgear (108) is not worn by the rider.

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (104) being configured to alert the rider on the rider interface device (110) and/or send an audio warning if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range.

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headgear (108) comprises:
a shell (150) having a shell exterior and a shell interior; and
a visor (155) connected to the shell (150).

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shell interior of the headgear (108) being configured to receive the control unit (104).

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors (102) being a Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor.

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (104) being a microprocessor.

8. A method (300) for controlling a vehicle operation, the method (500) includes the steps of:

detecting, by one or more sensors (102), an alcohol concentration of the rider when a headgear (108) is worn by a rider of a vehicle (114);
receiving, by a control unit (104), data from the one or more sensors (102) in real-time;
comparing, by the control unit (104), the detected alcohol concentration of the rider with a predetermined alcohol concentration range; and
controlling, by the control unit (104), the vehicle (114) to inhibit engine ignition if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range.

9. The method (300) as claimed in claim 8, comprising the steps of:
alerting, by the control unit (104), the rider, if the headgear (108) is not worn by the rider; and/or
sending, by the control unit (104), an audio warning, if the headgear (108) is not worn by the rider.

10. The method (300) as claimed in claim 8, comprising the steps of:
alerting, by the control unit (104), the rider on a rider interface device (110) if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range; and/or
sending, by the control unit (104), an audio warning, if the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the predetermined alcohol concentration range.

11. The method (300) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the headgear (108) comprises:
a shell (150) having a shell exterior and a shell interior; and
a visor (155) connected to the shell (150).

12. The method (300) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shell interior of the headgear (108) being configured to receive the control unit (104).

13. The method (300) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors (102) being a Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor.

14. The method (300) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit (104) being a microprocessor.