New Ferrari technology to ‘read driver’s mind to adjust car stability’

LONDON - Ferrari is planning to introduce a new in-car technology that will monitor a driver’s mental state and adjust the car’s stability and traction control systems to suit.

“Drivers tend to miscalculate - in particular, overestimate - their driving skill and, more importantly, their psychophysical condition, with the result that driver-selected dynamic vehicle performance simply reflects the driver’s wish, as opposed to the driver’s actual psychophysical condition and proficiency,” Autocar.co.uk quoted Ferrari’s application as saying.

The Europe-wide and global patent applications show how Ferrari expects a range of sensors to provide the cars of the future with data on the driver, allowing it to adjust its set-up accordingly.

The application continues, “The biometric sensors may comprise a piezoelectric measuring device for measuring the driver’s respiration, a device for measuring the driver’s blood pressure and heart rate, a television camera for monitoring the driver’s eyes (blink rate) to determine the driver’s alertness, a device for monitoring the electric activity of the driver’s brain, a device for recording the driver’s surface temperature and a device for recording the conductivity of the driver’s skin (to determine the degree of perspiration).”

A diagram indicates that sensors would be mounted in the cabin ceiling, dashboard, steering wheel and driver’s seat area.

It also includes a manettino dial, indicating that Ferrari intends to continue offering the race-based driver control system.

Ferrari said, “The dynamic performance may be modified to enhance driving safety in the case of a tired or unresponsive driver, and also to enhance driving pleasure and/or performance in the case of an alert, responsive driver.” (ANI)