GM has filed a patent for a new system capable of assessing the mental wellbeing of vehicle occupants while driving, then deploying specific countermeasures to mitigate a potentially negative outcome. The new patent application has been assigned patent number US 2024/0157948 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and was published on May 16th, 2024. The patent was originally filed on November 10th, 2022, and lists several U.S.-based engineers as the inventors, including Noah Stone, Matthew E. Gilbert-Eyres, Russell A. Patenaude, Eric T. Hosey, Kurt Chamberlain, and Vanessa A. Stieneker.
The patent describes a system that integrates various advanced technologies to monitor and assess the mental wellbeing of the driver. The patent also mentions an Automated Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that works alongside the wellbeing system to take control of the vehicle if the driver’s mental fitness falls below a certain threshold, with the intention of enhancing overall road safety.
The system collects data from a multitude of sources, including onboard sensors and external environmental data. There’s also a wellbeing module responsible for evaluating the driver’s mental state by analyzing this data. Vehicle telemetry is considered as well – for example, hard braking, hard acceleration, tailgating, and excessive use of the horn could be considered indicators of a deteriorating mental state.
If the system detects that the driver’s mental wellbeing is below a desired level, it can deploy various countermeasures. These might include adjusting the vehicle’s speed, providing alerts, or even suggesting a break. The system can also send notifications to the driver’s mobile device to encourage actions that improve their mental state. The system also describes how the ADAS can fully take over certain driving functions if the driver’s condition warrants such an action. The level of countermeasures deployed is directly related to driver’s level of mental wellbeing, as measured by onboard modules.
Obviously, a system such as is described by this GM patent would be hugely controversial, with critics undoubtedly questioning the system’s ability to accurately assess mental states and employ effective countermeasures. Whether or not GM decides to put such a system into production remains to be seen.
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Comments
HAL: “Dave…I think you’re projecting on others too much. I’m going to shut-down the car so you can take a time-out to reflect on how you’ve been acting lately…”
LOL. You’re gonna want to keep that tech out of the Corvettes.
Here comes Big Brother!
Well this is disturbing and completely unnecessary. Knowing that my car is actively monitoring me and prepared to take “counter measures” when it determines that my mental state is . . . what exactly?
First it was the black boxes that record everything you do. Then it’s going to be kill switches and cars that communicate with each other while on the road. Now we have this. We are losing more and more of our rights and freedoms. People better wake up and vote this crap out!
I have a 73 Camaro Z28 that could care less about recording everything I do… and I like it that way.
The story is about patents that could make roads safer and save lives. Don’t like that? Buy used. No nanny tech plus you can still work on older vehicles. With your rights and freedoms intact unless you like to roll coal or do the Carolina Squat
gm could care less about making roads safer and saving lives. It’s all about the $$$$$$$
I can see it now: “Hi, I can’t come into the office because my car thinks I’m crazy”. I guess it’s better than “My dog ate my homework” or “my car detected I’m drunk because I used mouthwash”
No more headbanging….. Or turning around to smack the kids… smh
How about a countermeasure to prevent a person impaired by a drug or alcohol from operative a vehicle? Should be simple enough for the masterminds consider the technology now available. Why are the manufacturers and government dragging their feet on this most deadly problem?
Make sure that ALL management gets this system tested on them first! And post the results online ( without names of course) to let the public have a Chace to respond! Tomg
Never mind deleting your truck now we have to delete software in our cars.
They could start with Barra.
Yes, vote for Freedom not the Mandate People in November.