South Korea-based Hyundai Mobis, the car parts arm of the Hyundai Motor Group, has unveiled an integrated vehicle controller with health monitoring capabilities.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Dubbed "Smart Cabin," the controller features four sensors: a 3D camera that captures a driver's posture, an ECG sensor mounted on the steering wheel, an ear-set sensor to measure the brainwaves flowing around the ears, and an HVAC sensor to measure the temperature or humidity and carbon dioxide level of the cabin. It then analyses the recorded vital signs, including posture, heart rate, and brainwaves.

According to a press statement, the device can recommend a user to switch to autonomous driving mode if the ECG sensor finds a high level of stress in the driver. The controller also has the ability to open windows or switch to outside-circulation mode if it finds the CO2 level inside too high.

WHY IT MATTERS

Hyundai Mobis is working to develop safety technology that focuses on the driver more than vehicle performance. It hopes for its latest offering to contribute to turning vehicles into a "moving health check-up centre".

The company has plans to upgrade the Smart Cabin to add more features, such as carsickness prevention, stress management, and blocking drunk driving. In the future, it is also expected that the controller will be able to guide a car to an emergency room in case of emergencies, such as cardiac arrest.

THE LARGER TREND

Hyundai Mobis has been coming up with bio-health technologies in recent years to promote public safety. The launch of its Smart Cabin follows the release of M.Brain, the first brainwave-based health monitoring system for drivers developed by Hyundai Mobis. The smartphone-enabled earpiece can notify drivers if they are losing attention while driving.

The company has also added health monitoring features to its cockpit system offering. Called M.VICS, the system features an ECG sensor, a monitoring camera, and a carsickness reduction technology.

ON THE RECORD

"Our core competitive edge is the software solution that has been designed to apply healthcare to mobility and the controller that enables integrated control," said Cheon Jae-seung, head of the R&D division, Hyundai Mobis.