Steering Wheel Heart-Rate Sensing for Driver Incapacitation Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle safety systems fail to detect unpredictable cardiovascular health problems or emotional states in drivers, such as road rage, which can lead to dangerous driving conditions, and only aware drivers can take preventative measures.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel sensory system embedded in the vehicle's steering wheel detects heart rate and other physiological markers, triggering a vehicle slowdown and prompting the driver to pull over if erratic rhythms or health issues are detected, using sensors, a display screen, and a connection to the vehicle's ABS system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a steering wheel sensory system with sensors is installed to detect heart rate and physiological markers, then driver safety and detection capability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel sensor system integrates multiple functions into a single device: it detects heart rate, monitors physiological markers, identifies cardiovascular conditions, and triggers vehicle slowdown mechanisms. This multi-functionality improves driver safety without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one integrated system performs what would otherwise require multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sensory detection system with the existing steering wheel structure and vehicle ABS system. The sensors are embedded in the steering wheel, and the system merges physiological monitoring with vehicle control functions, reducing the need for separate complex systems while maintaining safety benefits.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and systems are integrated into the steering wheel to detect physiological markers, then detection precision and safety monitoring are improved, but manufacturing complexity and ease of manufacture deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel sensor system performs preliminary detection of cardiovascular conditions before they become critical emergencies. By continuously monitoring physiological markers and identifying early signs of distress, the system can trigger preventive slowdown actions, improving detection precision while allowing standardized manufacturing processes to be used.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the steering wheel itself as an intermediary platform that naturally contacts the driver during operation. This eliminates the need for separate wearable sensors or complex installation procedures, as the steering wheel serves both as a vehicle control component and a physiological monitoring platform, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining high detection precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances driver safety by providing real-time detection and response to cardiovascular health issues and emotional states, potentially preventing accidents and allowing for early diagnosis of cardiovascular risks.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor that can detect the heart rate of the driver when the drive places their hands on the steering wheel
Implementation Method 2
an integrated pulse oximeter and heart rate monitor sensor that measures the oxygen level and heart rate of the driver
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel sensory system is disclosed. The steering wheel sensory system is embedded in a steering wheel of a vehicle and detects heart rate of a driver when the hands of the driver are placed on the steering wheel. The steering wheel sensory system includes several components including a vehicle slowdown mechanism, a control system, and a sensor (or sensors) that can detect the heart rate of the driver when their hands are placed on the steering wheel. In this way, the steering wheel sensory system monitors the user's heart rate during operation of the vehicle, whether driving or while parked (but turned on). When erratic heart rhythms are detected due to any cause (e.g., road rage, intoxication, cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke, etc.), the steering wheel sensory system triggers a process to slow the vehicle down safely and prompt for further needs.