Automaker Nissan is working on an automotive control system in which future cars would actually be able to react to motorists' thought patterns.
Although the concept of a "mind-reading" car can be unnerving, rest assured that even a driver's darkest thoughts will remain private. The idea here is to measure a motorist's brain activity and eye movement patterns in juxtaposition to the environment around the car and predict his or her next move, whether it's an upcoming turn, a passing maneuver or a lane change. The car can then, say, determine the correct speed and road positioning before entering into a turn.
"The idea is to blend driver and vehicle intelligence together in such a way that eliminates conflicts between them, leading to a safer motoring environment," says Professor José del R. Millán, who's leading the project being conducted with Nissan at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland.
