Advanced Driver Safety: A Steering Wheel Prototype for Real-Time Physiological and Kinematic Monitoring

This paper presents the design and development of an innovative steering wheel prototype equipped with advanced monitoring capabilities to enhance driver safety and mitigate the risks associated with drowsy driving. The prototype integrates physiological sensors, including electrocardiograph (ECG) and photoplethysmograph (PPG), alongside kinematic metrics to facilitate real-time multi-modal data acquisition while driving in a driving simulator. Laboratory experiments demonstrated the prototype’s functionality and accuracy in measuring multi-modal data, providing a reliable platform for assessing driving dynamics and driver physiological signals. Developed prototype paves the way for future developments in driver monitoring systems, which may integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning for real-time analysis of driver fatigue and health conditions.