DBusiness Daily Update: University of Michigan Offers Solution to Detect Impaired Drivers, and More

Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies.
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U-M Professor Mohammed Islam
U-M Professor Mohammed Islam holds a prototype development kit of a hybrid camera (right) and a direct time of flight sensor, (left) a sensor found in smartphone cameras for proximity sensing. // Photo courtesy of Jeremy Little/U-M

Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.

University of Michigan Offers Solution to Detect Impaired Drivers

Cameras similar to those already on newer model cars, combined with facial recognition tools, could read the “tells” of impairment in the face and upper body of a driver, University of Michigan engineers in Ann Arbor have shown.

This low-cost system could effectively detect drunk, drowsy, or distracted drivers before they get on the road — or while they are on the road. A new federal requirement for all new passenger vehicles to have this safeguard passed as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the deadline could come as soon as 2026.

“You already see these 3-D camera technologies in products like smartphones, tablets, and mixed reality devices,” says Mohammed Islam, U-M professor of electrical engineering and computer science at U-M who leads the project. “And these are small, inexpensive cameras that can easily be mounted on the rearview mirror, the steering column, or other places in the driver’s cockpit.

“In many new vehicles, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) cameras are already onboard to track driver alertness. They’ve already been matured and are cost-effective.”

Islam’s team proposes augmenting existing ADAS cameras with infrared Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) or structured light 3-D cameras costing roughly $5-$10. Their proof of concept experiments, which interpret data captured by the 3-D cameras with artificial intelligence tools, can identify five signs that a driver may be impaired:

  • Increased blood flow to the face.
  • Heart rate.
  • Eye behavior.
  • Head position and body posture.
  • Respiratory rate.

The team demonstrated that the system can measure vital signs, detect drowsiness, and provide data that correlates with breathalyzer readings. The researchers now are working with Tier 1 auto suppliers, including DENSO, and Tier 2 suppliers that make the cameras to further develop and potentially commercialize the technology.

The system is cheaper and harder to cheat than in-auto breathalyzers, which could cost as much as $200 per vehicle. A breathalyzer may be defeated by someone else performing the test on the driver’s behalf — or by opening the windows or diluting the air near the driver.

Consumers Energy, Muskegon County Partner to Launch Muskegon Solar Energy Center

Consumers Energy in Jackson and the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center in west Michigan are partnering to develop the company’s first large-scale solar project, which will begin construction in April and be fully operational in 2026.

The Muskegon Solar Energy Center will be a 250-megawatt facility capable of supplying clean, renewable electricity — enough to power approximately 40,000 homes — and is part of the build-up to Consumers Energy achieving its goal of bringing 8,000 megawatts of solar online by 2040.

“Consumers Energy has some of the most aggressive clean energy goals in the nation, and projects like this are a critical part of achieving those goals,” says David Hicks, vice president of clean energy development for Consumers Energy. “Partnering with an organization like the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center, with its long history of service to the county, combined with the benefits of solar energy and the revenues this agreement can provide, is truly a win-win for all parties.”

The project will use approximately 1,900 acres of land within the Resource Recovery Center’s footprint, in partnership with Moorland Township, presenting an opportunity for a unique collaboration between the three entities to continue providing clean water — and now, clean, renewable energy — for the local community.

The Resource Recovery Center is a one-of-a-kind facility that has reliably treated wastewater in the region for 50 years and includes a working farm that utilizes spray irrigation on crops as part of the treatment process.

Career Expo Featuring Seven Local Nonprofit Agencies Scheduled for April 3

Gesher Human Services in Southfield, The J Detroit, and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit will co-sponsor the Metro Detroit Nonprofit Career Expo, which will take place on Wednesday, April 3 from 10 a.m.-noon at The J Detroit (6600 W. Maple Road) in West Bloomfield Township.

The Metro Detroit Nonprofit Career Expo will feature seven local nonprofit agencies offering approximately 50 jobs, including part-time, full-time, and seasonal positions. Gesher Human Services also will provide free onsite resume assistance and support from certified professional resume writers, headshot-style photographs for attendees to use in their LinkedIn profiles, and information on a variety of career assistance. Representatives from Oakland80, an initiative that aims to create more economic stability and career opportunities for Oakland County residents through networks of connections and resources, also will be onsite. Registration is preferred although not required. For more information or to register, visit here.

New Home Community Creekside Park Now Selling in Chesterfield Township

M/I Homes Detroit has opened Creekside Park, a new community in the heart of Chesterfield Township, offering a blend of lakeside charm, modern amenities, and convenient access to I-94.

“Creekside Park’s prime location grants residents access to the beauty and conveniences of Chesterfield, New Baltimore, and Macomb County, including shopping, dining, and lakeside leisure activities,” says Sascha Vallat, vice president of sales and marketing for M/I Homes. “Along with its desirable location, Creekside Park is situated within the esteemed Anchor Bay School District, enhancing its appeal to families.”

The inaugural phase of Creekside Park features 46 new homesites, offering an array of five floorplans ranging from 1,800 to more than 2,700 square feet. These homes boast three to five bedrooms, two and one-half to three and one-half bathrooms, and various architectural styles and color schemes.

Homebuyers can customize their residences with options such as fireplaces, bay windows, morning rooms, three-car garages, storage extensions, and deluxe owner’s bathrooms. Average homesites are 76 by 130 feet and the starting price for these new construction homes begin at $389,900.

A grand opening will take place April 13, from 1-4 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the Peyton model home, enjoy refreshments, and engage with new home consultants to discover available floor plans and homesites.

For more information, visit here.

Nearly 200 Employers Looking to Hire at April 18 Macomb Community College Job Fair

Macomb Community College will conduct its annual job fair Thursday, April 18, 4-7 p.m., at the Sports & Expo Center on the college’s South Campus in Warren.

Co-sponsored by the city of Warren, the job fair offers community members the opportunity to connect with approximately 200 employers looking to hire for both full- and part-time positions. The job fair is free and open to the public with no registration required.

Employers participating in the job fair include American Axle, Henry Ford Health System, United Wholesale Mortgage, Smith Bros., Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, and Macomb and Oakland County police and fire departments. For a full list of employers participating in the job fair, visit here.

To help prepare for the job fair, Macomb students and alumni are invited to participate in Job Fair Success Seminars on Monday, April 15, 2-3 p.m., at Center Campus or Wednesday, April 17, 12-1 p.m., South Campus. At the seminar, participants will learn how to prepare for and navigate the college’s upcoming job fair and network with employers. To register for the Job Fair Success Seminars, go to wce.macomb.edu and select Macomb Student Success Seminars under personal enrichment and choose Career to select one of the sessions.

Tables are still available for $150 for employers interested in participating in the job fair. To reserve a table, email careerservices@macomb.edu.