Hyundai Mobis pioneers development of vital signs integrated controller for safe driving

On June 23, Hyundai Mobis announced the development of an integrated controller that analyzes drivers' vital signs such as posture, heart rate and brain waves, becoming the first in the world to develop such a controller. company.

Hyundai Mobis calls it the Smart Cabin Controller, which consists of four sensors that measure the vital signs of occupants, a controller and software logic for analyzing those signs.It can be said that Hyundai Mobis has developed products similar to advanced brains that can analyze vital signs that change in real time.

Image credit: Hyundai Mobis

While the mobility industry already has controllers capable of handling certain vital signs, this is the first time a dedicated healthcare controller has been developed that can perform comprehensive analysis of various vital signs.With this controller, Hyundai Mobis will implement safety technologies that focus on occupants rather than vehicle performance.

Hyundai Mobis expects the dedicated vital signs controller will allow the vehicle to act as a "mobile health check center."The company plans to pre-empt this nascent market by combining this new medical technology with mobility.

Cheon Jae-seung, head of R&D at Hyundai Mobis, said, "Our core competitive strengths are software solutions designed to apply healthcare to mobility and controllers that enable integrated control. Based on the unique vital signs we have established Database, we will further upgrade this technology to provide more functions, including motion sickness prevention, stress management and prevention of drinking and driving."

The smart cockpit controller is equipped with a total of four sensors: a 3D camera that captures occupant posture, an ECG sensor mounted on the steering wheel, an in-ear sensor that measures brain waves around the ears, and a cabin temperature/humidity sensor and HVAC sensors for carbon dioxide levels.The controller analyzes various vital signs collected from these sensors in real time to help drive safely.

Image credit: Hyundai Mobis

For example, if the ECG sensor detects that the driver's stress level is high, the controller recommends switching to autopilot mode; if the carbon dioxide level is too high, the controller opens the window or switches to external circulation mode.The technology is expected to evolve further to be able to guide vehicles to emergency rooms in emergency situations, such as cardiac arrest.

Last year, Hyundai Mobis also pioneered the development of M.Brain, a brainwave-based driver monitoring system, and continues to expand its global footprint with M.VICS, an autonomous cockpit system equipped with various latest healthcare technologies, including electrocardiography Sensors, driver monitoring cameras and motion sickness mitigation technology.