An Intelligent Noninvasive Sensor for Driver Pulse Wave Measurement

Noninvasive sensors to detect human physiological parameters are becoming more and more important. This is especially useful to monitor driver state as driver-vehicle system is a safety-critical system. Unfortunately, current technologies in these noninvasive sensors development are not satisfactory. In this research, we developed an intelligent integrated device called "smart wheel" to monitor drivers' physiology. Specifically, a group of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sensor, semiconductor temperature sensor, and piezoresistive sensor were integrated into a driving steering wheel. The developed device has the capability of measuring a driver's pulse wave, breathing wave, skin temperature, and gripping force in a noninvasive manner and in real time. A pilot experiment was carried out to verify the pulse wave measurement of this intelligent sensor and the result was found satisfactory