Periodic Reporting for period 3 - Stellar i-ris (First non-invasive, reliable and quickest biometric system detecting users’ fatigue and narcotics consumption for road safety and the prevention of accidents at safety-critical workplaces in Europe) Période du rapport: 2020-05-01 au 2020-12-31 Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet Stellar i-ris aims to prevent and reduce accidents on roads and at safety-critical workplaces due to users’ tiredness and narcotics (incl. alcohol, drugs, psychoactive medicine) intake. In the past 10 years, 376,343 fatal road accidents were reported in the EU. These accidents cause even more injuries and cost at the global level 1-3% of the world’s GDP. Occupational accidents cause 350,000 deaths /year and millions of serious injuries worldwide. It is estimated that drivers’ tiredness and narcotics intake cause approx. 27% of fatal road accidents. This has dramatic effects on our economy, society, infrastructure, and healthcare systems. Yet for time and cost reasons, road users and safety-critical professions are tested very rarely. Scientifics estimate a high “hidden” number of cases of tiredness and driving under the influence (DUI) of narcotics. This is due to the absence of reliable, all-in-one tests on the market. No tiredness detection system is currently used by traffic authorities. The pupillary light reflex - a recognised marker for tiredness and narcotics - is one of the most relevant indicators.Current detection systems are not economically viable or present technical drawbacks (analysis time, accuracy, invasiveness, heavy equipment). Company Stellar offers worldwide the first non-invasive tiredness (proof of concept) and narcotics detection system using a unique process and algorithm for the biometric measurement of the human pupil light reflex, delivering reliable results immediately. It includes 2 product concepts: i-ris HEAD, a fully automated measurement device with IR-retina illumination, targeted to controllers (traffic authorities, OHS specialists, employers) and i-ris APP, a self-detection smartphone application, targeted to end users (drivers, workers at safety-critical workplaces). The innovation targets the markets of drug-of-abuse and tiredness testing in Europe – together estimated at €1 billion. The goals of the Stellar i-ris innovation project are:1) to offer for the first time a reliable and price/performance competitive product solution for the biometric measurement of the human pupil light reflex; 2) to enable our target users – on the one side our so-called controllers – to perform easy-of-use, quick and accurate prevention controls on a frequent up to a systematic basis (e.g. at workplace); and, on the other side, our end users to perform self-detection tests to protect themselves, others but also the surrounding infrastructures, environment and to a larger extent the society from accidents on roads and at work due to tiredness, or due to the intake of alcohol, drugs or the abuse of psychoactive medicines; 3) to add value to the European markets of drug-of-abuse and tiredness testing by introducing an until now unique solution for the detection of tiredness and narcotic consumption that will improve state-of-the-art prevention controls in terms of accuracy, speed of measurement and non-invasiveness; 4) to enable Stellar to gain a leading market position in providing measurement solutions based on pupillometry as drug-of-abuse and tiredness test products for road safety and occupational health and safety – with an easy, simple and affordable solution that can be applied to all safety-critical sectors (i.a. air, road, rail, sea passenger and goods transport, as well as nuclear, oil and gas, chemical, construction and offshore (wind or oil) industries).In conclusion, the overall project was, considering the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic during the last project year, successfully managed. Although some of the goals could not be met to the originally planned extent, the i-ris HEAD device is finished and the next steps to further exploit the project’s results are starting in early 2021. Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent The performed activities in the third project period included: the technical optimisation for the overall Stellar i-ris technology (software and hardware), activities towards the system integration and validation in operational environment, the preparation for pre-series and small series production, the performance of field tests, as well as commercialisation and dissemination activities.The third project period was impacted by the Corona pandemic, which led to a delay in every aspect of the project throughout 2020. Especially, the field tests necessary for the project were not possible due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, the performance of the Stellar i-ris technology has been to a large extent demonstrated, on the one hand during the in-house studies and calculations, on the other hand during a clinical trial. The i-ris HEAD device was successfully completed and is ready for use. Within the overall project period, several commercialisation, communication and dissemination activities were successfully carried out. Numerous sales partnerships for commercialisation in Germany and further European countries have been acquired and set up, other promising negotiations are still under preparation.The project management has provided for the efficient and successful performance of the project and has taken over all the important tasks such as project monitoring (schedule and budget), human resources management, management of administrative, contractual and legal aspects as well as communication with the EASME representatives. To secure the innovation lead of Stellar DBS, two additional patents were granted and two new patent claims were formulated. Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent) Most unique selling points of the Stellar i-ris solution are: its non-invasiveness for users, its extremely high speed of measurement (within seconds), its high measurement accuracy, the small size of the system and equipment, its affordability, the considerable reduction of first test costs and of subsequent laboratory costs for controlling authorities, its user-friendliness, as well as the flexibility and robustness of the test setup and construction. Stellar expects a large impact for the Stellar i-ris technology and products, with a foreseen contribution to the company turnover of €9.4 million and 45 employees by 2024. field test field test i-ris HEAD i-ris HEAD Stellar i-ris technology
