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Intelligent textile interface for robust multimodal biophysical sensing to enhance driving safety
Yuanyuan Zheng1, Qian Ye1, Haicheng Yao2
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices, and Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
Science Bulletin
|March 21, 2026
Summary
This study introduces an intelligent textile interface for continuous, privacy-preserving driver monitoring. The robust, skin-contact system accurately tracks driver biophysical signals and behaviors in real-world driving conditions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Wearable Technology
Background:
- Adverse driver states contribute significantly to global traffic injuries, necessitating reliable real-time monitoring.
- Existing vision-based systems face limitations due to occlusion, environmental factors, and privacy concerns, risking monitoring interruptions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a robust, privacy-preserving, skin-contact intelligent textile interface for continuous multimodal biophysical sensing in vehicles.
- To overcome the limitations of current driver monitoring systems by enabling adaptable and reliable signal acquisition.
Main Methods:
- A topologically invariant knitted textile architecture with intrinsic self-adaptation for complex skin interfaces.
- Synergistic textile mechanics (stretching, twisting, sliding) for uniform stress distribution and adaptability.
- Integration of multimodal sensing (ECG, grip force) and electroluminescent feedback modules.
Main Results:
- The textile interface demonstrated a low bending modulus and reduced skin-contact impedance compared to traditional electrodes.
- Achieved clinical-grade ECG fidelity and sensitive grip force quantification (0.348 kPa⁻¹ sensitivity, 1.25 MPa range).
- Validated in real-world driving, enabling real-time monitoring of driver posture and behavior via 25-channel signal fusion.
Conclusions:
- The developed intelligent textile interface offers a privacy-preserving, skin-contact solution for robust in-vehicle driver monitoring.
- Its adaptability, durability, and multimodal sensing capabilities make it suitable for long-term automotive applications.
- Establishes a new paradigm for biophysical signal acquisition using adaptive, topologically invariant intelligent textiles.
