PROCESS AND METHOD FOR SAFER VEHICLE NAVIGATION THROUGH FACIAL GESTURE RECOGNITION AND OPERATOR CONDITION MONITORING

A vehicle operator condition monitoring system is provided. In one embodiment, the vehicle condition monitoring system includes a physical condition monitoring unit such as a camera, a data processing system, a navigation system, and a communication system. The physical condition monitoring unit is mounted in a vehicle to monitor at least one physical trait of a vehicle operator. The data processing system is coupled to the physical condition monitoring unit to compare data acquired by the physical condition monitoring unit with rules indicating types of action to be taken. The navigation system is functionally coupled to the data processing system allowing the data processing system to determine the location of the vehicle and the communications system is functionally coupled to the data processing system to allow the data processing system to contact an appropriate entity should the physical condition of the vehicle operator warrant such contact.