Ford is working with neuroscientists to spot when drivers are starting to switch off behind the wheel.
The company is working on a complex system capable of matching physical symptoms of tiredness, such as heart rate or breathing changes, with neural responses that reveal lapses in concentration, so that the vehicle can alert drivers when they are losing their focus – before they realise it themselves.
Working with the Uniklinik RWTH university in Aachen, Ford is testing participants using a driving simulator, designed using gaming technology, while their brain activity is scanned by an MRI machine, in order to map the brain patterns of the tested people to their reactions during the tests.
“We believe that by capturing this data we could one day be able to generate unique physiological driver fingerprints so that drivers of the vehicles of the future can be prepared to react and to intervene immediately in case it is required,” says Professor Klaus Mathiak M.D. Ph.D., head of Psychoneurobiology and lead consultant for Psychosomatic Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen.
Although the driving assistance technologies offer increasing levels of support nowadays, Ford insists that it remains crucial for drivers to stay alert when they are on the road. Research data released by the company shows that 25% of fatal and serious road incidents are related to driving fatigue, while 40% of drivers do not follow the recommended practice of taking a break every two hours on long journeys.
“The brain processes huge amounts of information when we are driving, but that may change as driver assistance technologies do some of the driving for us. Drivers also get tired and their minds can wander. Identifying more quickly when this happens could be of critical importance,” says Stefan Wolter, research engineer, Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford of Europe.
According to Ford, their “unique research project” could take driver monitoring an important step further and help ensure a smooth transition to driving vehicles with advanced driver assistance features.
Keyword: Ford Partners with Neuroscientists to Stop Drivers Drifting Off While Driving