Indian team develops graphene-based technology for prevention of drunk driving

In April 2018, researchers at the India-based Uttarakhand Residential University, RI Instruments and Innovationin developed a graphene-based technology to prevent vehicles from operating if the driver is drunk. Now, the same team produced a prototype that will be based on graphene generated from waste products and wild grasses as one of the components.

Graphene has an important role in the device as graphene-coated electrodes can catalyze the process of oxidation of ethyl alcohol into acetic acid. The concentration of alcohol will automatically disconnect the device, the team explained. The driver, while at the driving seat, has to blow the graphene sensor on the device to start the vehicle. This will immediately activate the sensor that will analyze and estimate the liquor content present in the blood of the driver.

The engine of the vehicle will not start in case the presence of alcohol is more than the allowed limit under the Motor Vehicle Act, the researchers said. If the driver gets someone else to blow the graphene-coated sensor, the infrared feature of the sensor will analyze it and the vehicle will not start. In case the driver feels sleepy while driving, the object and imaging module of the sensor will analyze his eye movements and will alert the co-passengers. The imaging technique will also send an alert in case the driver is talking on his mobile phone.