Nonobtrusive Methods for Physiological Driver and Passenger State Estimation

Authors

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Leonhardt, Medical Information Technology, Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen

Summary

This paper introduces various unobtrusive techniques that allow to monitor human vital signs (i.e. heart activity, breathing activity, temperature and potentially oxygen saturation) while driving a car.

While some techniques measure mechanical displacement of the skin due to cardiac or lung activity, other methods like e.g. the capacitive electrocardiogram or magnetic bioimpedance reflect electrical activity or passive electrical properties. In addition, temperature distributions can be measured unobtrusively by quantifying emitted radiation. Finally, optical methods which depend on scattering and absorption of biological tissues and especially blood are becoming more and more popular. Next to an introduction
to the physical principles, the paper also provides examples of automotive applications.

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