5th grader creates AI app to detect drowsy drivers

Three 5th grade students from Tran Hung Dao Primary School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) have just won first prize in the national Condeavour 6.0 competition with an AI application that detects drivers falling asleep while driving.

From left to right: Minh Khoi, Gia Huy, Quoc Tien and the national first prize winner of the Codeavour 6.0 International Competition - Photo: provided by the school

Not only did these three students present entirely in English at the above competition, they also had quite special thoughts and learning methods.

Idea from the third time we took each other out

Tuoi Tre reporter interviewed Huynh Gia Huy (student of class 5T2), Ngo Hiep Minh Khoi and Nguyen Quoc Tien (class 5/6) of Tran Hung Dao Primary School.

Tien said: "My team participated in the Condeavour 6.0 competition with the Driver Safety AI project. This topic originated from a real life event where my father was driving the whole family out but fell asleep and almost hit someone else.

But Khoi and Huy didn’t immediately agree to the idea. We spent an entire afternoon arguing fiercely in the school’s STEM room before finally agreeing to choose Driver Safety AI.

This is an AI application that detects driver drowsiness through a facial recognition camera system, analyzing signs such as closing eyes, yawning, nodding... When detecting a risk of loss of concentration, the system will issue a warning with LED lights, sounds or interactive questions to help drivers stay more alert, contributing to ensuring traffic safety.

* So your dad must be very good at coding?

- Gia Huy: I learned programming since kindergarten. Tien learned programming since kindergarten. Writing code (using programming languages to create coding strings - PV) for my group is not difficult, the hardest part is making models, having to fix them over and over again but the instructor still says they are... messy.

- Quoc Tien: In the group, only Khoi hasn't learned programming yet, Huy and I have to teach him again. But the reality is that Khoi's brain is... more sensitive than a machine's, he learns very quickly.

* I'm sure all three of you like computer science?

- Minh Khoi: My group all like math and computer science. I also like history. Huy also likes English.

- Quoc Tien: I also like natural sciences . Currently, in addition to studying in class, my father also teaches me physics, chemistry, and biology. These subjects are a bit difficult but very interesting to learn.

* Math is so boring, why do you like it?

- Minh Khoi: For me, solving math problems is a way to relieve stress. I like the most when my dad takes me for a walk around the city, the two of us talking about math. My dad used to be a math major so he knows a lot of good math problems. Every time we go for a walk, he challenges me to solve math problems, it's so much fun.

- Gia Huy: I like studying math because my parents and teachers don't force me to study. That means there's no pressure, no need to cram to memorize this lesson or solve that problem. I just study happily.

- Quoc Tien: Knowledge is like an ant that never sleeps. For math, just solve a lot of problems, study and do the exercises happily, and knowledge will naturally flow into your head without you even realizing it. For math, if you just sit there trying to memorize this formula or that formula, it's boring. If you force me to study like that, the ant inside me will go to sleep.

Besides studying, I also like to play.

* So are your three friends good at all subjects?

- Gia Huy: No, I'm most afraid of writing. Not only is it bad, but my handwriting is also horribly ugly (laughs).

- Quoc Tien: Usually when I study, the ants in my head won't sleep, but when it comes to writing, the ants get sleepy and want to go to sleep. My friends say I'm very good at talking, but when it comes to writing, all my gold, silver, and jewels go away.

- Minh Khoi: I know I need to improve my literature skills so I am trying to read more books to improve my writing skills.

* I heard that your father is an outstanding student in class?

- Minh Khoi: Yes, that can be considered as such! Because my name is on the list of outstanding students of the class.

- Gia Huy: Yes, I am considered to be top in class.

- Quoc Tien: I think being outstanding is only in a certain field. This mountain is high, there is always another mountain higher...

* So you must study a lot?

- Minh Khoi: I don't think I study much. Outside of school hours, I also entertain myself, play table tennis, watch history clips, read books...

- Gia Huy: Outside of school hours, I still have time to play basketball, study English in the KET program and am trying to overcome my weakness in literature...

- Quoc Tien: I'm like the two of you, sometimes I play games, self-study subjects I like like math, programming, English... but I don't like literature so I haven't self-studied yet.

* Returning to the Condeavour 6.0 competition, what did you learn from the competition, besides the award?

- Minh Khoi: That requires social understanding, not just burying your face in the computer to write code. For example, when choosing a topic for the competition, our group also learned about Decree 168 of the Government and the media also said that thanks to this Decree, traffic accidents have been reduced.

- Quoc Tien: Through the contest, I realized that English is a popular language. Nowadays, students must be good at English. Not knowing English means "disappearing".

Second, you need to have a certain amount of confidence. Actually, other teams are also very good, but maybe they are not confident. Even some students at international schools speak English better than our group.

Third, you need to have the ability to debate and respond well to situations. My group was able to answer all the questions from the judges.

To have this skill, I have to thank my parents and teachers for creating opportunities for me to practice. For example, recently, my mother told me to drop all the subjects of physics, chemistry, and biology. Why study physics, chemistry, and biology when I'm young? To save time to study music . I immediately argued. After the first argument, if my mother was not satisfied, she continued to find reasons and evidence to argue a second time, then a third time. Finally, my mother agreed to let me continue studying physics, chemistry, and biology.

- Gia Huy: The competition took place at an international school. After the competition, I went to visit the school. And I realized that international schools have many good things, but studying at a public school also has certain advantages.

Preparing for exams in Qatar

Codeavour 6.0 International Competition is an innovation competition for students, organized by STEMpedia Education Organization (USA), IHub @ IISc AI & Robotics Technology Center under the Ministry of Science and Technology of India, and Worlddidac International Education Association.

The national round in Vietnam was organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Computer Association and KDI Education. The group of students from Tran Hung Dao School won the national first prize and is preparing to participate in the international competition Codeavour 6.0 in Qatar in May 2025.

Ms. Le Thanh Huong (Principal of Tran Hung Dao Primary School):

They have in common a passion for technology.

All three students are bold, confident, energetic, enthusiastic, and especially they are always proactive in seeking and learning new knowledge. In terms of learning and thinking ability, all three students are intelligent, have good creative thinking, and are able to apply knowledge to solve practical problems. After many discussions, I found that they have many good and unique ideas.

The highlight of this group of students is their excellent teamwork skills. They have quick reflexes and communicate confidently and effectively in English. In particular, they have in common a passion for technology, especially artificial intelligence.

* Can you tell us a little bit about your dream?

From left to right: Minh Khoi, Quoc Tien, Gia Huy - Photo: Hoang Huong

Minh Khoi: I dream of studying at university, graduate school, and doing research in the US. Then I return to Vietnam to open a company that produces circuit boards and chips...

Quoc Tien: I dream of becoming a technology engineer or an astronaut, an inventor. How can I explore the solar system, maybe go to Venus to find an ore that helps humans resist the heat of the Sun...

Gia Huy: I dream of working at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration - PV) in the future. I will try my best to learn the good things and advances there so that after a period of working at NASA, I will bring the experience I have accumulated here back to Vietnam to apply and contribute to the development of my country.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoc-sinh-lop-5-lam-ung-dung-ai-phat-hien-tai-xe-buon-ngu-20250418090412774.htm