Macnica and JR Central to Measure Shinkansen Drivers' EEG Signals "Aiming for Absolute Safety"

Macnica (headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara Kazumasa; hereinafter referred to as Macnica) announced today that it has conducted a demonstration experiment with Central Japan Railway Company (headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture; Representative Director and President and CEO: Niwa Shunsuke; hereinafter referred to as JR Central) to measure drivers' levels of concentration and alertness through electroencephalography analysis.

Background
Ensuring safety is the top priority for Shinkansen operations, and various safety measures are implemented, including infrastructure investment, system implementation, and various drills and training. While constantly undertaking new experiments and research, JR Central has focused on measuring and analyzing changes in conditions during driving in order to pursue even greater safety by scientifically elucidating the mechanisms and countermeasures for concentration and alertness while driving, and has taken this up as a research theme.
In this demonstration experiment, electroencephalograms, which can obtain a person's cognitive state at a higher level, were used as a method of measuring changes in state. In recent years, advances in brain science research, AI technology, and small electroencephalographs have made it possible to perform reliable analysis, and an environment has been created in which brainwaves can be measured to gauge a person's state while driving, so it was decided to use Macnica 's BrainTech technology to carry out the measurements.

■ Purpose
The primary objective of this demonstration experiment was to visualize the concentration and alertness of Shinkansen drivers from the results of EEG measurement, and the secondary objective was to elucidate the mechanisms behind the levels of concentration and alertness required for safe operation based on the data obtained, and to establish effective methods for improving their condition.

■ Overview of the demonstration experiment
The brainwaves of two drivers were measured on the same train on different days during the early morning, morning, afternoon, and nighttime hours on a train running between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. After that, based on the information obtained from the measurement results, hypotheses on countermeasures were formulated, the effectiveness of several types of countermeasures was measured, and the extent to which the countermeasures caused changes in the brainwave responses was analyzed.
The measurements revealed that while an overall high level of concentration and alertness was maintained, detailed analysis revealed certain trends in changes in state and differences in effectiveness depending on the content of the measures.

EEG measurement results

■ Future plans
In the future, Macnica will continue to collect and analyze its own data with the aim of applying this technology to measuring conditions during operation, regardless of experience level, in addition to the Shinkansen.

■ Exhibiting at "AI/Artificial Intelligence EXPO [Autumn]"
Macnica will introduce its latest brain tech solutions, including quantifying driver sensory evaluation using electroencephalograms, at the "AI/Artificial Intelligence EXPO [Autumn]" event to be held at Makuhari Messe from November 20th to 22nd, 2024.

・Date: Wednesday, November 20th, 2024 - Friday, November 22nd, 2024 10:00-17:00
Venue: Makuhari Messe (Halls 4-6) Booth No. 7-40
Official website: https://www.nextech-week.jp/hub/ja-jp/visit/ai.html
・Exhibition content: https://www.macnica.co.jp/public-relations/news/2024/146330/

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