How much would you like to drive a car that responds to your mood and can reduce your stress? Jaguar Land Rover says it’s researching new AI technology to understand drivers’ states of mind – and adjust cabin settings to improve their well-being.
The mood detection system technology uses a driver-facing camera and biometric sensing to monitor and evaluate the driver’s mood. The settings of cabin features such as heating, lighting and ventilation will be altered in response to their facial expressions to help tackle stress.
JLR says personalised settings could help reduce stress by changing the ambient lighting to calming colours, selecting a favourite playlist if signs of weariness are identified and lowering the temperature in response to signs of tiring.
Dr Steve Iley, JLR’s Chief Medical Officer says: “As we move towards a self-driving future, the emphasis for us remains as much on the driver as it ever has. By taking a holistic approach to the individual driver, and implementing much of what we’ve learnt from the advances in research around personal well-being over the last 10 to 15 years, we can make sure our customers remain comfortable, engaged and alert behind the wheel in all driving scenarios, even monotonous motorway journeys.”
It’s also trialling similar technology for rear passengers, with a camera mounted in the headrest.
JLR says the new mood–detection system is one of a suite of technologies that the company is exploring as part of its vision to improve the driving experience.
