Ford gets to the heart of safety
Prototype seats monitor drivers’ heart condition
AE in Technology.
- Published in Technology.
Are you sitting comfortably: Six ECG sensors monitor heart activity
Engineers at Ford’s Aachen research centre have developed prototype seats which monitor drivers’ heart condition.
It’s hoped that the technology can improve safety in the future – research used by Ford found that drivers suffering from cardiovascular disease and angina are up to 52% more likely to be involved in road accidents.
By 2025 almost a quarter of people in Europe will be 65 or older and almost a third by 2050 – the number of drivers at risk of heart attacks is likely to increase considerably by that time. Aachen’s medical officer, Dr Achim Lindner, said: “The system will detect if someone is having a cardiovascular issue – a heart attack for example – and could also be used to detect the symptoms of other conditions such as high blood pressure. This benefits the driver but could also make roads safer for all users.”
The seats are fitted with six contactless electrocardiograph (ECG) sensors, developed by Aachen university. These are able to monitor heart activity without electrodes, and through the drivers’ clothing. So far the sensors give accurate readings 98% of the time and for 95% of drivers.
Ford’s researchers are looking at how the data could be linked to advanced driver assistance systems such as lane departure warning, autonomous braking and speed limiters. The data could also be sent to the emergency services via eCall.
