Revolutionary Brainwave Technology for Driver Safety
Tran Van Luc, a former Computer Science student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, has become the CEO of Awake Drive Joint Stock Company. The startup specializes in developing innovative brainwave-based monitoring systems to maintain driver alertness.
On April 20, Luc represented the young generation at the National Startup Festival for students, sharing his entrepreneurial dreams with the Prime Minister and various ministry leaders through his project, ‘Awake Drive.’ This initiative had previously been a finalist and winner in multiple student innovation competitions before becoming a successful startup product.
The idea for Awake Drive was born out of a desire to create practical technology that addresses a significant issue. Luc and his team observed that lack of alertness is a major cause of serious traffic accidents. Existing drowsiness warning systems, primarily using cameras, were deemed delayed and sometimes dangerous as they only triggered alerts when clear signs of drowsiness appeared.
Under the guidance of Dr. Trinh Van Chien, a lecturer at the School of Information and Communication Technology and winner of the 2023 Golden Globe Award, the team developed a product consisting of a brainwave-detecting ear-worn device and the Awake Drive mobile app. ‘When users wear the device, brainwave data is sent via Bluetooth to their phones. If the user is alert, their brain activity is fast and so are the brainwave frequencies. Conversely, when they are drowsy, brain activity slows, and brainwave frequencies drop,’ Luc explained.
The Awake Drive system incorporates AI, IoT, and brainwave technology, achieving 92% accuracy in lab tests. After entering various startup competitions and receiving valuable feedback, Luc and his team refined their product and shifted their focus from contest participation to building a real startup company.
In October 2024, Awake Drive secured USD 25,000 in investment from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology Innovation Startup Fund (BK Fund) for product development. The company plans to distribute its product widely within Vietnam over the next two years, with plans to expand into Southeast Asia and markets like Europe and America from 2027 onward.
Awake Drive envisions becoming Vietnam’s leading pioneer in applying brainwave technology to safety and health solutions. Luc emphasizes that the hardest part of starting a business is ‘daring to think, to act, and to fail.’ The young CEO believes that knowledge from textbooks is just the foundation, and real growth happens when stepping into the ‘school of life.’
