Nonintrusive Biological Signal Monitoring in a Car to Evaluate a Driver`s Stress and Health State

Abstract

Nonintrusive monitoring of a driver`s physiological signals was introduced and evaluated in a car as a test of extending the concept of ubiquitous healthcare to vehicles. Electrocardiogram, photoplethysmogram, galvanic skin response, and respiration were measured in the ubiquitous healthcare car (U-car) using nonintrusively installed sensors on the steering wheel, driver`s seat, and seat belt. Measured signals were transmitted to the embedded computer via Bluetooth (R) communication and processed. We collected and analyzed physiological signals during driving in order to estimate a driver`s stress state while using this system. In order to compare the effect of stress on physical and mental conditions, two categories of stresses were defined. Experimental results show that a driver`s physiological signals were measured with acceptable quality for analysis without interrupting driving, and they were changed meaningfully due to elicited stress. This nonintrusive monitoring can be used to evaluate a driver`s state of health and stress.