ENHANCING VEHICLE SAFETY

Transcription

1 ENHANCING VEHICLE SAFETY Through Integrated Driver Wellness Management Executive Summary Chronic illnesses are on the rise, and according to a recent study, almost 45% of adults in the US are dealing with at least one chronic condition like blood pressure or diabetes. 1 However, with rapid advancements in wearable technology, people have started taking a more proactive approach to health. This is reflected in the increased adoption of connected health devices and wearables used for real-time health monitoring. Smart watches and smart bands in the health and fitness segment are now among the fastest growing categories of wearables. 2 Time spent by an average person in daily com mute has also gone up over the years. Data collected by AAA Foundation indicates that on an average, drivers in the US made two driving trips per day (for 46 minutes) which translates to 29.2 miles per day or 10,658 miles annually. 3 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted a study that identifies certain medical conditions that contribute to motor vehicle crash causation. It was found that about 1.3% of all crashes included in this survey were caused by driver reported medical emergencies and 84% of the drivers in these emergencies experienced seizures, blackouts or diabetic reaction prior to the crashes. Thus, there is a strong premise for monitoring the health status of drivers through active or passive methods. 4

2 The convergence of innovation, IoT, connected vehicle technology, healthcare, and miniaturisation is expected to give rise to several unique business models that give people a holistic view of their healthcare needs. This opens up multiple avenues for automotive OEMs to collaborate with technology companies, healthcare providers, and the medical devices industry. Several automakers have started looking at integrating aspects of healthcare with driving to enhance customer experience. This white paper explores the evolution, impact, and benefits of in-vehicle occupant health monitoring. We look at industry examples, solution considerations and scenarios where information from healthcare wearables enhance the safety of vehicle occupants. We also analyse the challenges involved, and present our point-of-view on how maximum value can be derived through this concept. A Closer Look At Driver Health Monitoring Collecting data about vital health parameters of the driver and combining it with physiological, clinical, spatial and vehicle information can lead to timely interventions, reducing the likelihood of medical mishaps occurring behind the wheel. Many a times, accidents are caused due to tiredness, ill-health and distraction of drivers. In-vehicle sensors & driver wearable devices enhance driving safety by extending the driver s ability to monitor vital health parameters and take action in case of an emergency. Driver health monitoring or in-vehicle health monitoring systems refer to sensors and algorithms that can measure the biophysical attributes of drivers and other vehicle occupants. This can be achieved either through sensors embedded in vehicles or through wearable devices. Several valuable insights can be derived by combining the vehicle data with the health data. For example, a low blood sugar level could be detected by a vehicle and used to prevent a potential car accident. In case of a medical emergency, the vehicle could automatically notify emergency crews or nearby drivers, and alert family members to the emergency. Consider a scenario where the driver is unwell and uneasy behind the wheel. His vitals like heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature are high. He is fatigued and unable to concentrate behind the wheel, and as a consequence, he is rapidly accelerating/decelerating and making sudden lane changes. The driver health monitoring system is able to correlate these actions and predict that the driver is stressed out, and can take action accordingly. Health monitoring inside the car can contribute to safety enhancements as well as to the overall wellness of the driver. There are no market-ready solutions available today, but several automakers are collaborating with technology companies, academia, and healthcare device manufacturers to deploy specific use cases. 2

3 Business Impact For Automakers Gartner hype cycles for connected vehicles and smart mobility (Figure 1) as well as consumer engagement with healthcare and wellness have placed in-vehicle occupants health monitoring at the peak of inflated expectations. 5 In-vehicle health monitoring can expand the functionality and value proposition of an automaker's products. Healthcare delivery organisations can leverage the biometric data for identifying members' health issues early on, and can prepare for treatment options. Expectation Mood Recognition Over-the-Air Software Updates Real-Time Parking Open Automotive Alliance In-Vehicle Occupants Health Monitoring In-Vehicle Ethernet Individual Mobility Services Context Brokering Platform Digital Security Virtual Personal Assistants Innovation Trigger Car Connectivity Consortum Mobile Device Integration into Automotivities Cloud Computing Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Communications Peak of Infiated Expectations Plateau will be reached in: Autonomous Vehicles Internet of Things Car-Sharing Services EV Charging Infrastructure LBSs in Automotive Vehicle Information Hub Electro Mobility Internet Radio Augmented Reality Electric Vehicles Automotive HMI Technologies NFC Genivi Alliance Embedded Software and Electronics Design As of July 2015 Through of Disillusionment time Haptics in Automotive Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Advanced Driver Assistance System PublicTelematics and intelligent Transportation System Remote Diagnostics Usage-Based Insurance Solutions Traffic Data Services Head-Up Displays HTML 5 Slope of Enlightenment Automobile ecall Vehicle-to-vehicle Communications Plateau of Productivity Satellite Digital Radio Hybird Electric Vehicle Customer Telematics less than 2 years 2 to 5 years 5 to 10 years more than 10 years X obsolete before plateau Commercial Telematics Figure 1: Gartner hype cycle for connected vehicles and smart mobility, 2015 Detecting any variation in vital signs or chronic medical conditions will help in taking the right corrective action, such as taking medication, informing a care provider, or alerting the family, or trigger an active safety measure, such as stopping the car. Driver monitoring systems can be highly beneficial to the automotive consumer as it will add another layer of safety to their connected car. 3

4 OEM Initiatives in Driver Health Monitoring Automakers such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Volkswagen and Volvo already offer features for monitoring driver attention and detecting drowsiness using driving inputs, cameras, and sensors. In precarious conditions, these built-in systems can alert the user, and in some cases, take remedial action. Attention assistance systems are slowly becoming mainstream now with several more OEMs announcing their plans to roll out similar systems. OEMs like Ford, BMW, and Toyota are already experimenting with incorporating medical sensors within their cars that would monitor the driver s vitals and could potentially allow doctors to even examine people remotely. BMW and Munich Technical University are working on a steering wheel capable of detecting a driver s pulse, oxygen saturation, and perspiration. This gives the driver a quick health-check while at the wheel. 6 A few OEMs are also working on facial recognition technology. French automaker Peugeot is collaborating with researchers to create a video sensor that can monitor faces to detect driver emotions. 7 Researchers at MIT are also working on project Autoemotive that is exploring implementation of mood-recognition technology in cars. 8 Toyota began experimenting a few years ago with a system that monitors cardiovascular functions via the driver s grip on the steering wheel, although that system remains a prototype. 9 Ford has a patent on a technology to monitor drivers' changing health behind the wheel, and potentially share that information with their healthcare provider. 10 Ford Germany and Aachen University worked on the Ford heart monitor seat, which has special embedded sensors that detect electrical impulses generated by the heart. If the seat detects a heart problem and/or the camera detects slumping, the system engages safety measures. If a heart attack occurs, the vehicle s self-driving module kicks in to avoid imminent collisions and stop in a safe location. It could also be programmed to e-call for help. 11 Integrated Driver Wellness Management: An Approach One plausible approach to driver health monitoring is the integration of data from various sources like the driver s wearable devices, primary care information, and prescription details along with vehicle information, environmental/geospatial data and mobile data to facilitate holistic wellness management for the driver through prescriptive, predictive, and preventive alerts/interventions. Health/fitness wearable devices of the driver can unlock a wealth of information and vital health parameters. 4

5 Real-time data on heart-rate, blood pressure, skin conductance etc. can be obtained even through the most basic wearables. These, when combined with driver s primary care information and prescription details, can give a holistic picture of the driver s healthcare requirements. The system should capture the health profile and preferences of the driver, and must have a robust authentication mechanism for logging in. The concept of BYOD can be extended to this context - the data from driver s health/fitness wearable can be utilised in combination with data from other sources to tailor interventions. Irrespective of the wearable device used, the system should be able to authenticate the user and immediately obtain access to the driver s health data, preferences, and primary care information. This would ensure a high degree of personalisation and better user experience. Real-time vehicle data can be obtained from vehicle sensors through an OBD reader/scanner. Data on speed, acceleration, braking, steering, etc. can be correlated to give an insight into the driving pattern of a particular driver. These, when combined with the driver s health information, can potentially identify precarious driving situations linked to driver s health. The system will in turn trigger an alert or an active safety measure which could possibly even save the driver s life. Environmental, mobile, and geo-spatial data can also be integrated to the driver health monitoring system. Information on weather conditions, traffic, road conditions, routes, air density, altitude, pollution levels, etc. could be used in several scenarios in this context. When a combination of inputs leads to a pattern discovery, the car can take some remedial action or generate alerts or early interventions. Some of the outcomes could be: Giving voice/vibration alerts warning the driver to drive carefully Alerting the family to the condition and helping them navigate to the location of the car Altering in-car parameters such as temperature, seating position, playlists etc. Active safety measures, such as stopping the car Informing the care provider or care coordinator of medical conditions and booking appointments Giving a medication reminder, prescription refill alert Blocking voice calls with a call back message This approach to integrated driver wellness management has been depicted in Figure

6 Wearable Data Vehicle Data Primary Care Data Geospatial Data Prescription Data Mobile Data Blood Glucose Value Systolic Blood Pressure And Diastolic Blood Pressure Heart Rate Temperature Sleep Pattern Speed Acceleration Deceleration Sudden lane changes Latitude and Longitude Distance Low Fuel Visibility Mileage Tire pressure Vaccination & Check-up 360 o health record view, labs & medical imaging Educational Content for Diet, Exercise & Disease Management Care Plans & Programs for Disease and Wellness Categories Weather Conditions Traffic Location Road Conditions Route Air Density Grade of the roads Altitude Off-roading Winds Medication Reminder Presciption refill reminder Medication details Pharmacy detail Geo-tagging Check Ins Contacts Online Shopping Chats Forums Imporatant Dates Favorite Internet Radio Customer Sentiment Calender Data Fuel economy Analytics Engine Early Interventions + Alerts + Report Generation Figure 2: : Integrated driver wellness management system Inputs to the integrated driver wellness management system can be either from a single source or multiple sources. The data from these sources is parsed, cleansed, and passed through the rules engine, which would in turn derive patterns that would trigger actions. Output from the system could be anything from giving sound/vibration alerts, to calling emergency services, or even self-steering the car to safety. When used in combination with ADAS features, driver health monitoring can give rise to several high-impact use-case scenarios. (Figure 3) Jeff is a fatigured and he is driving back home after a bad day at office His vitals seem off the charts and he is driving at speeds above normal with rapid acceleration and harsh brakes. Our Driver wellness management system picks up this precarious driving situation The vehicle goes into the autopilot mode and steers him to a safe zone Despite the alerts, John continues to drive The vehicle responds by giving him voice and vibration alerts asking him to drive carfully or pull over Figure 3: Triggering autopilot mode in a precarious driving situation 6

7 There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration while designing a solution for driver health monitoring. The system should be designed in such a way that false positives and alerts are filtered out. Monitoring should be performed in the least distracting and least invasive manner possible. At no point of time should the comfort and safety of the driver be compromised. It is also important that in-car health monitoring be an opt-in solution, rather than mandatory. Value Creation Opportunities For Automakers There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration while designing a solution for driver health monitoring. The system should be designed in such a way that false positives and alerts are filtered out. Monitoring should be performed in the least distracting and least invasive manner possible. At no point of time should the comfort and safety of the driver be compromised. It is also important that in-car health monitoring be an opt-in solution, rather than mandatory. For the automotive consumer, in-car health monitoring will provide an enhanced experience by improving the safety and comfort aspects. This would empower them by letting them take greater control of their health. Healthcare delivery organisations can leverage this to identify members health issues early on, and prepare treatment options accordingly. The detailed stakeholder-benefit mapping has been depicted in Table 1. Stakeholder Automotive Consumer Benefit Real time alerts and remedial actions Better driving experience Enhanced overall wellness Automakers/OEMs Better brand value/positioning Improved feature-set Healthcare Providers Gain access into patient health across the spectrum Identify risks and target interventions Table 1: Stakeholder benefit mapping for driver health monitoring Today, more than half of hospitals in the US use telemedicine exchange of medical information from one site to another via electronic communication to engage with patients remotely and do everything from monitoring vital signs to full-fledged consultations. 12 In-car health monitoring can help a driver in need of medical assistance by sharing vital parameters from his wearable to a healthcare provider. A scenario for telemedicine has been depicted in Figure

8 Jim, who has been driving for over 8 hours, feels unwell while still behind the wheel He uses the Telemedicine provided on his Connected Car The car automatically places a call to his primary care provider The doctor can now remotely monitor Jim s vital signs and consult him accordingly This data is uploaded to the cloud which is in-turn sent to the doctor. His older medical records are also shared with the PCP System reads his vital signs such respiration,temperatire, skin conductance, oxygen saturation, heart-rate and pulse from the wearable wrist band Figure 4: Scenario for telemedicine/quick health check-up This concept can be extended to other long distance modes of travel too, and is especially beneficial to the Transportation & Logistics industry. Challenges & Risks While there are immense benefits to driver health monitoring, there are also a few challenges that need to be addressed in order for the concept to see widespread adoption. A few of them have been discussed in this section. Regulartory Compliance The HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) has set rights for an individual s health information over who can review and receive this data. Driver health monitoring involves collection and analysis of driver s personal and health information which might be in line with the data protection norms specified by HIPAA. It is likely an interpretation of HIPAA in the vehicle environment may need further review as this technology develops. 4 In-vehicle medical advice may also need FDA approvals. In-car use of specific types of wearables (especially eye-wear) is also controversial, with some governments dismissing them as a cause of distraction to the driver. 13 It should be taken care that the use cases considered for development contribute to safer driving, and do not deter it. 8

9 Data Protection & Privacy Concern Security is another major concern, and the data that is being collected can be subject to misuse. Consumer privacy concerns need to be addressed as there is a possibility of cybersecurity attacks and misuse of private information. Organisations should put safeguards in place and ensure the health and driver data, as well as the cloud layer is protected from mischievous intent and malicious attacks. It is also important that the monitoring is done only with the opt-in of the driver or the vehicle occupants. At any given point, the driver should be allowed to cancel the sending of data or opt-out of real-time monitoring. Infrastructure Challenges IoT solutions involve a large number of always-on devices that are constantly generating data. Organisations should put in place a robust infrastructure with adequate security measures to deal with large volumes of data. They should invest in building capabilities in areas like cloud computing, big data analytics, and new data integration approaches. These organisations should collaborate with vendors with proven capabilities that can consult, implement, validate, and monitor solutions for them. Way Forward In-car occupant health monitoring, as a concept, has immense potential and can elevate the driving experience by enhancing driver comfort and safety. Automotive companies should collaborate with technology companies, consumer healthcare manufacturers and medical systems to explore use cases in this area. They should work on assessment, evaluation, and deployment of select proofs of concept as a next step. Based on the feedback and data collected, further iterative feature enhancements need to be made. In an industry where products are increasingly being perceived as similar to one another, it is important that automakers invest in IoT and related technologies that bring about differentiation and give their products a competitive edge. Automakers must carefully balance the features with the challenges and come up with a viable solution for widespread acceptance. 9

10 References Health Fact Sheet, fact-sheets/health-fact-sheet/ Smartwatches and Smart Bands Dominate Fast-Growing Wearables Market, American Driving Survey: Methodology and Year 1 Results, May May 2014, The potential for Adaptive Safety through In-vehicle Biomedical and Biometric monitoring, files/24esv pdf Gartner hype cycles for Connected Vehicles and smart mobility, 2015, Smart steering wheel gives a health check while driving, gizmag.com/smart-steering-wheel/20467/ Teaching Cars to Read Our Emotions, Autoemotive website, Health Apps Offer In-Car Tech That Benefits Rather Than Distracts Drivers, rs/ Ford patent seeks to monitor driver health while on the road, Ford seeks to monitor drivers for heart attacks behind wheel, Information Technology: In the Driver s Seat for Healthcare Transformation, In-vehicle Wearable Integration to Accelerate Convergence; Global Penetration in New Cars to Exceed 90% by 2019, press/in-vehicle-wearable-integration-to-accelerate-conv Author Swaytha Rajagopalan is a Senior Consultant with the Domain Solutions & Strategy Group at Altimetrik. She has 7.5 years of progressive experience in consulting, business analysis and product management in Automotive, Logistics and Manufacturing domains. She holds a Master s Degree in Management from SP Jain, Mumbai and B.Tech from Anna University, Chennai. She can be reached at srajagopalan@altimetrik.com. 10