Scientists at Ford's European Research and Innovation Centre in Aachen, Germany, are working on a car seat that can monitor your heart. The technology being used in this smart car seat, is a result of Ford Team’s collaboration with researchers at Aachen University, who have already been working on a new, contact-less electrocardiogram (ECG) heart rate monitoring system for babies.
Working on the same technology of contactless electrocardiogram; the Fort seat has Six electrodes integrated (which will not affect daily use in any way) that monitor a driver's heart rate, collect data that is analyzed by an on-board computer software to determine ‘What action to take next’. The primary aim of the Ford seat is reducing the number of car accidents caused by drivers having heart attacks behind the wheel. The seat could work with voice systems within Ford vehicles to warn a driver to pull over and seek medical attention. It could even use the driver's mobile phone to send an message to a driver's doctors to report irregular heart activity. Or it could send out an alert to emergency medical workers through the on-board connectivity system, in much the same way that some on-board systems can call into dispatchers when they detect a crash.
The work is hailed as revolutionary as most ECG monitors (devices which monitors heart for proper pumping) at present require metal electrodes to be attached to the skin at various points on the chest. But as the prototype the Ford team is working on is a contact-less system; means the Ford ECG seat’s six sensors can detect heart activity, even through the driver's clothing. The electrodes used are designed to be able to detect the electronic signature of the heart even through heavy clothing; the electrodes have the sensing ability even through 10 layers of cotton.
When fully developed the smart seat will be able to detect if someone is having a cardiovascular issue, for example a palpitation, symptoms of other conditions such as high blood pressure or electrolyte imbalances, or even a ‘seconds ahead heart attack’; as soon as the person sits on the steering wheel – a life saving benefit not only for the driver; but also for those on the same road.
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