Ferrari working on mind-reading technology

Ferrari is developing technology that will observe a driver’s mental and physical status and regulate the vehicles traction and stability control systems to match.

The mind-reading tech was drawn out in many European and worldwide patent applications. The papers reveal how Ferrari imagines a wide-range of sensors provide data on the driver, to allow set-up adjust appropriately.

Ferrari’s documentation states: “Drivers tend to miscalculate — in particular, overestimate — their driving skill and, more importantly, their psychophysical condition, with the result that driver-selected dynamic vehicle performance simply reflects the driver’s wish, as opposed to the driver’s actual psychophysical condition and proficiency.”

In addition, it adds: “The biometric sensors may comprise a piezoelectric measuring device for measuring the driver’s respiration, a device for measuring the driver’s blood pressure and heart rate, a television camera for monitoring the driver’s eyes (blink rate) to determine the driver’s alertness, a device for monitoring the electric activity of the driver’s brain, a device for recording the driver’s surface temperature and a device for recording the conductivity of the driver’s skin (to determine the degree of perspiration).”

Ferrari says: “The dynamic performance may be modified to enhance driving safety in the case of a tired or unresponsive driver, and also to enhance driving pleasure and/or performance in the case of an alert, responsive driver.”