JLR’s Mind Sense looks to monitor driver brainwaves for alertness

At a technology showcase at the company’s Gaydon test centre, JLR explained how it hopes to monitor brain activity through steering wheel sensors, using an on-board computer to analyse the data.

“One key piece of new research is to see how we could measure brainwaves to monitor if the driver is alert and concentrating on driving,” said Dr Wolfgang Epple, Jaguar Land Rover director of Research and Technology.

“Even if the eyes are on the road, a lack of concentration or a daydream will mean the driver isn’t paying attention to the driving task.”

Human brains continually produce four or more distinct types of brainwaves that operate at different frequencies. During daydreaming, theta waves are dominant, and by monitoring their prevalence JLR believes it will be able to detect when driver concentration is waning.

Traditionally, monitoring brainwaves has been performed using sensors placed on the head. Recognising that this isn’t practical for driving, JLR is experimenting with sensors in the steering wheel that use algorithms to amplify the signal and filter out the brainwave from background noise.