Real-Time in-Cabin Vital Sensing and Response System Using Ultra-Wideband Radar in Automotive

2026-26-0012

To be published on 01/16/2026

Authors
Abstract
Content
This study introduces a novel in-cabin health monitoring system leveraging Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radar technology for real-time, contactless detection of occupants' vital signs within automotive environments. By capturing micro-movements associated with cardiac and respiratory activities, the system enables continuous monitoring without physical contact, addressing the need for unobtrusive vehicle health assessment. The system architecture integrates edge computing capabilities within the vehicle's head unit, facilitating immediate data processing and reducing latency. Processed data is securely transmitted via HTTPS to a cloud-based backend through an API Gateway, which orchestrates data validation and routing to a machine learning pipeline. This pipeline employs supervised classifiers, Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Random Forest (RF) to analyze features such as temporal heartbeat variability, respiration rate stability, and heart rate. Empirical evaluations demonstrate the system's proficiency in classifying occupant states, including normal, distressed, and unconscious conditions, achieving high prediction accuracy with low false positive rates. Notably, the system attains sub-10-second detection latency and facilitates end-to-end response actions within a 5-minute window. Experimental deployment in a Mercedes vehicle demonstrated high accuracy in occupancy detection (97%), vital sign monitoring (94%), and full ERS (Emergency Response System) activation within five minutes, meeting Euro NCAP 2025+ Child Presence Detection (CPD) requirements. Furthermore, the cloud infrastructure supports the accumulation of health data, contributing to personalized driver profiles and informed decision-making for future interventions. This research underscores the potential of UWB radar technology in augmenting automotive safety through real-time health monitoring, paving the way for smarter and more secure vehicular environments.
Meta TagsDetails
Pages
5
Citation
Singh, Samagra, Kavita Pandya, and Keerti Jituri, "Real-Time in-Cabin Vital Sensing and Response System Using Ultra-Wideband Radar in Automotive," SAE Technical Paper 2026-26-0012, 2026-, .
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
To be published on Jan 16, 2026
Product Code
2026-26-0012
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English