Hyundai Mobis Smart Cabin Tracks Driver Vital Signs

Hyundai Mobis has unveiled a new Smart Cabin solution that essentially turns a car into a health tracker on wheels. The Smart Cabin is able to monitor a number of different vital signs, using an array of four sensors to monitor the status of the driver in real time.

The array consists of a 3D camera, an ECG sensor, an ear sensor, and an HVAC sensor. The camera is fixed on the driver and evaluates their posture, while the ECG is located in the steering wheel and the ear sensor is placed near the head of the driver to monitor brainwaves. Finally, the HVAC sensor measures ambient factors like temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels to gauge the conditions inside the vehicle.

Taken together, the four sensors are intended to make driving safer. In some cases, it can do that with an automated response if certain conditions are observed. For example, the car could activate the outside-circulation mode or open a window if there is too much carbon dioxide. In other cases, the array will simply make recommendations to the driver. For instance, the car may suggest that the driver start using an autonomous driving mode if the ECG determines that the amount of traffic is too stressful for the person behind the wheel.

In addition to the sensors themselves, the Smart Cabin comes with the controller and all of the software needed to analyze the vital signs that are captured with the system. Hyundai Mobis believes that focusing on the status of the driver, rather than the vehicle itself, will make for a significant advancement with regards to on-road safety.

“Our core competitive edge is the software solution that has been designed to apply healthcare to mobility and the controller that enables integrated control,” said Hyundai Mobis R&D Head Cheon Jae-seung. “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.”

Hyundai Mobis launched a driver monitoring system with facial biometric and eye tracking tech back in 2019, a few short months after investing in the facial recognition specialist Deep Glint. The company has since invested $20 million in venture capital funds in an effort to attract more innovative technology partners.

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June 23, 2022 – by Eric Weiss