Enhancing Road Safety: Fast and Accurate Noncontact Driver HRV Detection Based on Huber–Kalman and Autocorrelation Algorithms

Enhancing road safety by monitoring a driver’s physical condition is critical in both conventional and autonomous driving contexts. Our research focuses on a wireless intelligent sensor system that utilizes millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar to monitor heart rate variability (HRV) in drivers. By assessing HRV, the system can detect early signs of drowsiness and sudden medical emergencies, such as heart attacks, thereby preventing accidents. This is particularly vital for fully self-driving (FSD) systems, as it ensures control is not transferred to an impaired driver. The proposed system employs a 60 GHz frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar placed behind the driver’s seat. This article mainly describes how advanced signal processing methods, including the Huber–Kalman filtering algorithm, are applied to mitigate the impact of respiration on heart rate detection. Additionally, the autocorrelation algorithm enables fast detection of vital signs. Intensive experiments demonstrate the system’s effectiveness in accurately monitoring HRV, highlighting its potential to enhance safety and reliability in both traditional and autonomous driving environments.