Ein in den Sicherheitsgurt integrierter Biosensor könnte die Aufmerksamkeit und den Stress von Piloten und Fahrern zuverlässig verfolgen

Researchers have developed a new sensor that can pick up and track biological signals, such as the heartbeat and respiration, without being in contact with the body of users. This sensor, presented in a paper published in Nature Electronics, could be used to pick up the cardiopulmonary signals of humans while they are in dynamic environments, such as a plane cabin, a moving car or a bus.

“Monitoring drivers’ alertness or stress is essential for road safety,” Xi Tian, co-author of the paper, told Tech Xplore. “Existing sensors designed to measure physiological markers of fatigue, such as heart rate and respiration, face challenges in moving vehicles due to the unpredictable vibrational noise. To overcome these challenges, our research focused on developing an automotive biosensor capable of non-contact and reliable health monitoring in dynamic environments.”

The biosensor developed by Tian and his colleagues is based on metamaterials, materials that are carefully engineered to enhance or change their properties. To fabricate their sensor, the researchers embroidered conductive threads arranged in a comb-shaped pattern onto a seatbelt, attaining a surface that guides radio waves and amplifies wireless interactions with the human body.