We caught up with Harvey Weinberg, Director, Sensor Technologies at Microtech Ventures, to find out more about his session at InCabin Phoenix in March covering ‘Radar Based Vital Signs Monitoring: How it works and why you want to use it‘. Read on to find out more…
1. You will be doing a presentation on radar based vital signs monitoring – can you explain how it can be used to enhance automotive safety?
It is well known that driver drowsiness is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents. Camera based driver monitoring systems can detect some signs of drowsiness – particularly eyelid closure. But vital signs monitoring can detect the onset of drowsiness well ahead of eyelid closure, when it is much easier to awaken the driver without startling them.
2. In what scenarios do you think radar is better than cameras for in-cabin monitoring?
Child and pet presence detection is one of radar’s strengths. Camera based systems are easily fooled by lifelike dolls, stuffed animals, or the like. Also they are often occluded by seats or packages left in the car and cannot see everywhere in the cabin or underneath a blanket, for example. Radar easily classifies living beings by measurement of respiration. Likewise radar can penetrate most automotive seating and other items left in the car, allowing it to see all the way through the cabin.
3. Why is it so important to monitor heart and respiration rates in-cabin?
Measurement of heart rate and heart rate variability (variations in timing between beats) reveals a wealth of information about one’s current state of mind, immediate well being, as well as longer term health. Car makers can use some of this information to make driving safer as well as informing the driver if there are long-term variations in cardiac performance which might indicate a visit to your doctor.
