Abstract
This dissertation presents the development, deployment, and evaluation of advanced solid-state sensor arrays for real-time health monitoring, with a primary focus on drowsiness detection in drivers and firefighter safety. These sensor arrays were designed using commercial sensors specifically tailored to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the breath of drowsy individuals and were calibrated for precision detection both in laboratory settings and real-world scenarios. Comprehensive breath analysis of resident surgeons before and after prolonged shifts revealed notable elevations in VOC biomarkers correlated with fatigue, emphasizing the array's efficacy in capturing physiological markers indicative of drowsiness. These sensor arrays were integrated into vehicular systems to enable real-time monitoring of driver alertness levels. Rigorous spike testing conducted within vehicular environments demonstrated the arrays' ability to detect target compounds' minute concentrations, affirming their viability to be integrated in a vehicle.
Additionally, custom-designed sensor arrays were engineered to identify and monitor exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in firefighting environments, facilitated by dedicated testing chambers for sensor calibration to specific PAHs like naphthalene. Deployment of these sensors during controlled training fires exhibited discernible deviations in sensor responses, highlighting an increased presence of PAHs, while their integration onto remotely operated vehicles enhanced situational awareness by scouting potential exposure risks ahead of firefighters. With ongoing refinements, this prototype holds considerable promise in furnishing invaluable real-time insights crucial for bolstering occupational safety measures and environmental health monitoring, thereby ushering in transformative advancements in other fields beyond simply firefighting and drowsy driving prevention.