Title: Evaluation of driver status in autonomous vehicles: using thermal infrared imaging and other physiological measurements

Authors: Shinji Kajiwara

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, 577-8502, Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan

Abstract: This review examines whether thermal infrared imaging is a possibility for evaluating the state of drivers in autonomous vehicles. Functional thermal infrared imaging is considered to be a promising future methodology for evaluating driver status. Observations of a driver's emotional state rely on muscle activity, subcutaneous blood flow, and sweating pattern, all driven by the sympathetic nervous system. The selection of appropriate baselines, autonomous nature of thermal prints, experimental setup, methodological problems, limitations, and future directions are all discussed. This paper thus outlines the possibility of monitoring drivers of autonomous vehicles using thermal infrared imaging.

Keywords: autonomous vehicles; driver health; preventive safety; psychology; facial temperature change.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVICS.2019.102224

International Journal of Vehicle Information and Communication Systems, 2019 Vol.4 No.3, pp.232 - 241

Received: 23 Apr 2018
Accepted: 20 Apr 2019
Published online: 11 Sep 2019 *

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