MIT-Developed "Aware Car" Rats Out Older Drivers

Travis Hudson — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:20:00 EDT

The ~~problem~~ topic of older drivers remains a hot-button issue, and with the Baby Boomers plowing toward retirement, the number of older drivers on the road is expected to double over the next few decades. To address the politically sensitive implications of this progression, the MIT AgeLab has converted a Volvo XC90 into an Aware Mobile. The crossover is outfitted with a collection of sensors and doodads, not help the elderly drive, but rather to properly determine when a senior should hand in his or her keys.

Everything from eyelid sensors, to vitals sensors, to cameras, to speed and trajectory sensors are integrated in the Volvo, and the resulting data is stored in a hard drive in the trunk, allowing easy transmittal to the friendly neighborhood DMV. The DMV can, in theory, recognize if an older person is unfit for the road, and subsequently pull their license. In reality, the DMV will do approximately squat. [Boston Globe via Autopia] (Image via Getty)

Cars to Monitor Own Health, Researchers Say

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 07:45:31 EST

A research team at Purdue university is developing a system that will detect damaged car parts and figure out how long they'll last before failing, effectively predicting breakdowns before they happen. The structural health-monitoring system uses a network of sensors placed strategically in areas of high stress and impact like struts, control arms and at the jawlines of lippy passengers (ok, not quite there yet), which are hooked to a processor and software that can read the vibrations and look for signs of wear that could lead to failure. The team says the system could be in use within two or three years.

Cars to predict their own breakdown [We Make Money Not Art]

Jalopnik: sensors

MIT-Developed "Aware Car" Rats Out Older Drivers

Cars to Monitor Own Health, Researchers Say