Hyundai Mobis has developed a controller that analyzes a driver’s vital signs, such as posture, heart rate and brainwaves. Dubbed the Smart Cabin Controller, the technology consists of four sensors to measure the vital signs of occupants, a controller to analyze these signs and software logic.
Although there are already controllers in the mobility industry capable of processing certain vital signs, this is claimed to be the first time a dedicated healthcare controller has been developed that can perform an integrated analysis of various vital signs.
Hyundai Mobis expects that the controller will enable the vehicle to play a role as a ‘moving health check-up center’. The company plans to occupy the market, which is currently in a fledgling state, by combining this new healthcare technology with mobility.
“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 Cheon Jae-seung, head of the R&D division at Hyundai Mobis. “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.”
The Smart Cabin Controller is equipped with four sensors: a 3D camera that captures the posture of occupants, an ECG sensor mounted on the steering wheel, an ear-set sensor to measure the brainwaves flowing around ears, and an HVAC sensor to measure the temperature/humidity and carbon dioxide level of the cabin. The controller analyzes various vital signs collected from these sensors in real time to help with safe driving.
For example, it recommends switching to autonomous driving mode if the ECG sensor detects a high stress level in the driver, and it opens windows or switches to the outside-circulation mode if the CO2 level is too high. This technology is expected to evolve to be able to guide the vehicle to a hospital in case of an emergency, such as cardiac arrest.
In 2021, Hyundai Mobis developed the M.Brain, a brainwave-based driver monitoring system. Now it is expanding its sales activities globally with M.VICS, an autonomous driving cockpit system equipped with various new healthcare technologies, including an ECG sensor, driver monitoring camera and carsickness reduction technology.
