Preliminary Studies on mm-Wave Radar for Vital Sign Monitoring of Driver in Vehicular Environment

Abstract

The last decade has witnessed significant improvements in vehicular technology, especially in providing a safer and more enjoyable environment for drivers and passengers. Fully autonomous vehicles are no longer a dream but are now a successful technology across the globe. Features such as autopilot, assisted parking, speed warning, and lane change assistance have improved the quality of user experience while using an automobile. Apart from this, e-health services have also become a prime aspect of the modern vehicular industry. Therefore, this research presents preliminary studies on mm-wave radar setup based on Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology in the 76 to 81 GHz band for vital sign monitoring of drivers and passengers in a vehicular environment. The effect of system parameters and the driver’s location with respect to radar is studied using human subjects to determine the optimum setup for vital sign monitoring. Measurement results showcase that mm-wave radars can be utilized for accurate and efficient measurement of the vital signs of drivers in vehicular environments.