Automakers Add Biometrics to Make Sure Motorists are Healthy, Happy

A growing number of automotive suppliers are developing technologies that use a variety of sensors and software to monitor the well-being of drivers and passengers and take proactive measures to help them if they are in distress.

In one recent example, global automotive supplier Hyundai Mobis announced June 23 that it has developed a system that uses cameras, sensors and software to monitor driver health. The Smart Cabin Controller tracks such vital signs as heart rate, brainwaves and posture — the company dubs it a “moving health check-up center.”

“Our core competitive edge is the software solution that has been designed to apply healthcare to mobility and the controller that enables integrated control,” Cheon Jae-seung, head of the R&D division at Hyundai Mobis, said in a press release.

Using a Vital Signs Database

The Smart Cabin Controller can also take proactive measures in case of problems. If it finds that the driver is having a health crisis, the system will switch the car to autonomous control.

The system also monitors the level of carbon dioxide inside the vehicle. If that gets too high, the controller opens windows or changes the setting on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to let fresh air into the cabin.

With further development, Hyundai Mobis said, the technology could do other things as well. For example, if the driver is in cardiac arrest, the Smart Cabin Controller could guide the vehicle to an emergency room.

“Based on the unique vital signs database we’ve built up, we will upgrade this technology further to provide more features, including carsickness prevention, stress management and the blocking of drunk driving,” Jae-seung said.

Monitoring Health, Behavior

Several other suppliers have also announced they are developing systems that contribute to safety in cars by monitoring the health and behavior of drivers and passengers and helping in case of trouble.

To help children or pets who get trapped in an unattended vehicle, Toyota Connected North America is testing concept technology that helps detect occupants in a vehicle. If the driver has left the vehicle, it alerts the driver or passersby by means of the horn, flashing lights, text messages and notifications through the Toyota app.

Read more: Auto Suppliers Develop Cabin Monitoring Systems to Protect Children, Pets

To alert drivers if they are driving dangerously, artificial intelligence (AI) firm Smart Eye offers a system that uses cameras to monitor the driver’s movements and AI to determine what those movements mean.

See also: Connected Cars Get Smart by Anticipating Driver Needs

To determine if a driver is distracted or drowsy, tech company Gentex deploys cameras and technology that can assess behavior, gestures and activities.

To activate child locks when a child is detected on the rear seat and to alert the driver when they take their eyes off the road, smart mobility firm Valeo offers systems that recognize when passengers are on board and scan drivers’ faces.

The suppliers noted that in-cabin monitors like these will prove valuable in future autonomous vehicles, with use cases including determining if the driver can retake control of the vehicle, telling the vehicle to drive to an emergency room or notifying parents when an autonomous vehicle has dropped their child off at school.