The car becomes a health monitor Research vehicles from TU Braunschweig at the Automechanika trade fair in Frankfurt

Fatigue, stress and health problems are among the most frequently underestimated risks of accidents. But what if a car could detect how the person behind the wheel is feeling? What if it could pick up on early warning signs from the body and even detect cardiac arrhythmias? This is precisely what the Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics (PLRI) at Technische Universität Braunschweig and Hannover Medical School is researching, in collaboration with the Institute of Automotive Engineering at TU Braunschweig. At the international motor show ‘Automechanika Frankfurt’, taking place from 8 to 12 September 2026, the PLRI will present two research vehicles that transform the car into a diagnostic health space.

Whilst driving, the research vehicles record various health-related signals, including heart rate and respiratory rate. With the help of a long-term, personalised trend analysis, changes in a person’s state of health can be detected at an early stage. Those affected can then undergo a more detailed examination by a doctor. “This can help prevent heart attacks or strokes. Furthermore, neurological and respiratory conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or COPD can be diagnosed at an early stage, which improves treatment outcomes and reduces costs,” says Professor Thomas Deserno of the Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics (PLRI).

The vehicle is not intended to replace a medical diagnosis or treatment. Rather, the aim of the research is to identify long-term changes, potential abnormalities or stressful situations at an early stage and to interpret them appropriately. “The decision on what medical action to take always remains with the individuals concerned and their treating specialists,” emphasises Professor Deserno.

Sensors in the steering wheel, seatbelt and passenger compartment

What specific data is collected in the car? Electrodes integrated into the steering wheel record an electrocardiogram (ECG). Cameras mounted on the rear-view mirror analyse body movements and changes in facial colour to infer breathing and heart rates. Microphones in the seatbelt are used for phonocardiography, i.e. to record heart sounds. These methods are supplemented by light sensors that measure changes in blood volume within the tissue to monitor heart rate and detect cardiac arrhythmias (photoplethysmography).

The sensor technology is discreetly integrated into the vehicle, meaning that the driver’s behaviour does not need to be altered. The various measurement signals each provide only part of the overall picture and are evaluated collectively by an artificial intelligence system.

Crucial: Vital signs require the context of the journey

Reliably interpreting biosignals in a moving car is challenging, as the driving situation influences the measurement of these biosignals. Road vibrations, steering movements, braking, acceleration, cornering or a change in seating position can distort the biosignals. In the PLRI’s research vehicles, the signals are therefore linked to driving dynamics data from the vehicle. This globally unique combination of health and vehicle data is crucial: the vehicle becomes not only a measurement point but also a source of context for the correct interpretation of the data. Only by considering these factors together can one assess whether a change in a signal indicates physical stress or whether it can be explained by the specific driving situation.

From measured values to personalised driving functions

However, it is not just a matter of recording individual vital signs in the car. The ‘Automotive Health’ research field also investigates how information that can be used in the short term can be derived from this data. One possibility is personalised driving functions that adapt to the driver’s current situation. In the event of abnormal signals, a vehicle could enhance occupant safety by adjusting its driver assistance systems. In future, comfort features could also be tailored more closely to individual needs, and personalised driving functions developed.

Experience Automotive Health at Automechanika

At Automechanika in Frankfurt this September, visitors will have the opportunity to experience both research vehicles up close. They will see how the sensor technology is integrated into the steering wheel, the seatbelt and the interior, what data is generated during a journey, and how biosignals are combined with information from the vehicle. In discussions with scientists from the PLRI, the potential of combining medical informatics and automotive engineering becomes clear.

“In future, mobility can become not only more connected and automated, but also more preventative and personalised – in other words, more human-centred,” says Professor Deserno. The research vehicles thus showcase the next generation of “Automotive Health”: the car of the future will evolve from a means of transport into a medical diagnostic space.