Tran Van Luc, a Computer Science student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, is the CEO of Awake Drive JSC, which has developed a system to monitor and maintain driver alertness using brainwave technology.

On April 20, at the National Startup Day for Students, in the presence of the Prime Minister and ministry leaders, Luc represented young innovators, sharing his entrepreneurial aspirations with the “Awake Drive” project. The initiative won prizes at multiple student competitions, before becoming a startup product.

Luc told VietNamNet that the idea stemmed from a desire to create a technology and transform it into a practical, impactful product. 

Luc and his co-workers found that driver drowsiness is a leading cause of severe traffic accidents. Existing products, mostly camera-based, only alert drivers when obvious signs of sleepiness, such as yawning, droopy eyes, or head nodding appear. 

These warnings, often delayed or startling, can pose risks. To address this, Luc’s team pioneered the use of brainwave technology for a more effective solution.

With the guidance from Trinh Van Chien, a lecturer at the School of Information and Communication Technology, and a 2023 Golden Globe Award recipient, the team developed a product comprising an ear-worn brainwave sensor and the Awake Drive mobile app. 

“When users wear the device, brainwave data is sent to the phone via Bluetooth. When alert, thoughts are quick, and brainwave frequency is high. When drowsy, thoughts slow, and so does the frequency,” Luc explained.

Integrating AI, IoT, and brainwave technology, experiments show an accuracy ratio of 92 percent. 

The team first brought the product to the “Student Creative Idea” competition organized by the School of Information and Communication Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, where they received feedback and advice on core technology, algorithms, and AI processing.

After refining and improvements, the product entered startup competitions like TECHSTART, Young Creativity, Young Startup, Startup with Kawai, and Startup Launchpad. The project competed at about 10 competitions, securing top prizes in half.

Luc and his team then began thinking of creating a startup product, and are planning to launch their products into the international market. 

In October 2024, the inventors secured $25,000 in funding from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology’s BK Fund for product research, development, and business establishment. Additional investment commitments have also been secured, to be disbursed once the product hits the market.

Luc said the product is expected to hit the Southeast Asian market and then choosier markets such as Europe and the US.

Thuy Nga