Advanced e-Call Support Based on Non-Intrusive Driver Condition Monitoring for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

Abstract

Background: The growth of the number of vehicles in traffic has led to an exponential increase in the number of road accidents with many negative consequences, such as loss of lives and pollution. Methods: This article focuses on using a new technology in automotive electronics by equipping a semi-autonomous vehicle with a complex sensor structure that is able to provide centralized information regarding the physiological signals (Electro encephalogram—EEG, electrocardiogram—ECG) of the driver/passengers and their location along with indoor temperature changes, employing the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Thus, transforming the vehicle into a mobile sensor connected to the internet will help highlight and create a new perspective on the cognitive and physiological conditions of passengers, which is useful for specific applications, such as health management and a more effective intervention in case of road accidents. These sensor structures mounted in vehicles will allow for a higher detection rate of potential dangers in real time. The approach uses detection, recording, and transmission of relevant health information in the event of an incident as support for e-Call or other emergency services, including telemedicine. Results: The novelty of the research is based on the design of specialized non-invasive sensors for the acquisition of EEG and ECG signals installed in the headrest and backrest of car seats, on the algorithms used for data analysis and fusion, but also on the implementation of an IoT temperature measurement system in several points that simultaneously uses sensors based on MEMS technology. The solution can also be integrated with an e-Call system for telemedicine emergency assistance. Conclusion: The research presents both positive and negative results of field experiments, with possible further developments. In this context, the solution has been developed based on state-of-the-art technical devices, methods, and technologies for monitoring vital functions of the driver/passengers (degree of fatigue, cognitive state, heart rate, blood pressure). The purpose is to reduce the risk of accidents for semi-autonomous vehicles and to also monitor the condition of passengers in the case of autonomous vehicles for providing first aid in a timely manner. Reported abnormal values of vital parameters (critical situations) will allow interveneing in a timely manner, saving the patient’s life, with the support of the e-Call system.

Copy-CAV: V2X-enabled wireless towing for emergency transport

“…Recent studies [11,12] have investigated the use of smart vehicles to continuously monitor their driver's health, so that mitigating actions can be taken quickly. The type of ailments typically considered in these studies include cardiac arrests and strokes, which tend to occur suddenly and require immediate or as-fast-as-possible medical attention.…”

Monitoring Physiological State of Drivers Using In-Vehicle Sensing of Non-Invasive Signal

“…If an emergency occurs while driving, the driver only has 0.15 seconds to respond to the situation to prevent unwanted things from happening [2]. Thus, upgrading vehicles with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors connected to the Internet and local analytical databases to identify and address cognitive and physiological problems in real-time becomes an innovative approach that could revolutionize road safety by providing new perspectives on driver-related challenges [5].…”

“…The electrocardiogram (ECG) signal is also one of the methods often used to track a driver's health or attention. The ECG has several phases: the P signal, the QRS complex, and the T signal [5]. The driver's physical condition is commonly evaluated using the QRS complex because it has a higher amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than the P and T signals [14,15].…”

“…Based on measurements of electrical properties, the ECG continuously records cardiac changes in heart rate, offers cardiac response information that describes cardiac activity, and measures the body's level of physical, psychological, and physical fatigue [16]. The signals have received increased attention and have been included in the in-vehicle sensing of advanced driver monitoring systems that detect, record, and transmit relevant health information to avoid things that could compromise traffic safety [5,14].…”

Smart Steering Sleeve (S3): A Non-Intrusive and Integrative Sensing Platform for Driver Physiological Monitoring

“…Despite advances in the development of wearable sensors such as smart watches (e.g., Apple Watch) and wrist bands (e.g., Fitbit) for driver physiological measurements, it is not easy to achieve a high adoption rate when their use is not compulsory. Toward that end, several unobtrusive systems have also been developed to measure ECG [ 22 , 23 ], EEG [ 24 ], and HRV signals [ 25 ]. Visual signals and video data have also been proposed to monitor the health conditions of drivers [ 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”