Researchers at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in the U.K. are working on car seats that can measure the driver's heart rate and know when they're falling asleep in order to keep them safe on the road.
The project involves building an electrocardiogram (ECG) into the seat to monitor these factors, according to Discovery News. The ECG includes circuits called Electric Potential Integrated Circuits (EPIC) created by Plessey Semiconductors that can keep track of the driver's health and condition by measuring heart rate, respiration and other factors.
"We are extremely excited to be working with Nottingham Trent University on this TSB funded program," Steve Cliffe, business development director at Plessey, said in an interview. "For the first time it will be possible to reliably and robustly extract electrophysiology signals using Plessey EPIC sensors in an automotive environment without direct contact with the body."
The university is designing the system to be used with features such as active cruise control and tasks for lane-keeping. The system could take over for the driver if he or she is unable to respond to alertness warnings, Motor Authority reported.
Drivers could use the EPIC sensors to avoid and decrease the amount of accidents on the road in situations where the driver suffers from fatigue, and possibly from a heart attack or other situations. While having car seats that know personal details about their body can be uncomfortable for some drivers, the system has the potential to make driving safer.
The sensors are in an early phase of development, and the NTU researchers are working on several areas that need improvement, such as the ECG electrodes in the back of the seats needing textile technology, Discovery News reported.
The technology is expected to be applied first to commercial driving, such as making sure truck drivers are safe while on the job. Afterwards, the sensor could be made available for high-end luxury cars.
