A seat that can monitor a driver’s heart rate and help older drivers known to have heart conditions has been developed by a team from Ford’s European Research and Innovation Centre in Aachen, Germany, and the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University.
The seat uses six embedded sensors to detect electrical impulses generated by the heart. Data collected by the sensors could, for example, be analysed by medical experts or onboard computer software. Possibilities abound, from linking to remote medical services and Ford vehicle safety systems to even providing real-time health information and alerts of imminent cardiovascular issues, such as a heart attack.
The six sensors are positioned on the surface of the seat backrest. The electrodes are designed to detect the electronic signature of the heart through clothing.