Integration of an Electromagnetic Coupled Sensor into a Driver Seat for Vital Sign Monitoring: Initial Insight

Pascal Vetter1, Lennart Leicht2, Steffen Leonhardt, Daniel Teichmann

  • 1RWTH Aachen
  • 2RWTH Aachen University

Details

15:00 - 15:18 | Wed 28 Jun | | WeCPl.6

Session: Driver Assistance and Warning Systems

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of an initial study for non-contact vital sign monitoring of a driver using a gradiometer coil integrated into a driver seat. For first evaluation, electromagnetic coupling is analyzed and signal quality is tested in laboratory environment: The sensor is based on the principle of magnetic induction measurement (MIM) but designed to have high influence of capacitive and mechanical coupling as well. The resulting signal is exemplary analyzed and indicates that the sensor is capable of measuring respiratory activity while the driver is in a resting phase like autonomous or highway driving. In the absence of respiratory activity, heart beats can be identified, but have a low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) and need to be extracted by further signal processing. In the simulated driving situation using a gaming steering wheel in a racing situation with force feedback, high artifacts are induced due to movement. The results suggest that the distortion in the signal while steering has a distinctive signal course and a steer angle sensor could be of use for artifact removal. Furthermore, the proposed sensor could be used for driver activity monitoring in driver state estimation.