Hot New ‘Hands-On’ Direction in ADAS Safety Research

JLR researches use of steering wheel heating and cooling to reduce driver workload

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) recently revealed novel research into a driver-safety aid: a sensory steering wheel rim that heats or cools on each side to warn of upcoming GPS-directed maneuvers-plus serves as an extra information source in low-visibility situations.

The company believes it even could be used in autonomous vehicles, changing the temperature of gearshift paddles, for instance, to indicate to the driver a successfully completed SAE Level 3 “hand-over” to the vehicle's self-driving system.