Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors has been changing its game plan since joining the Renault-Nissan Alliance to form the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Announcing new technologies in the near future for battery-electric vehicle (BEV) platforms and autonomous driving, a lot of the tech we see in Mitsubishi cars today come from its subsidiary company, Mitsubishi Electric. Showing us something very interesting during the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, such as driving technology with artificial intelligence and virtual assistants that can act autonomously, the newest technology has been designed to detect serious physical conditions experienced by people driving automobiles.

Mitsubishi Electric has played a hand in consumer safety and health more than once. Back in 2018, Mitsubishi Electric tackled a phenomena that could affect the car buying experience for consumers. Called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, many people around the world are affected by this seasonally-driven depression caused by the reduction in sunlight that we experience during the fall and winter months. A common treatment for this is light therapy with bright, luminescent lamps. The lighting system Mitsubishi Electric designed would place LED panels in office spaces that have little natural light to act as light box therapy.

Working towards a brighter future, Mitsubishi Electric also created a net zero-energy building (ZEB) test facility, SUSTIE®, and operated it for one whole year. The results were astounding. A medium-sized office building with more than 6,000m2 of floor space and equipped with solar panels showed a 115-percent reduction in energy use when compared to standard primary energy consumption (as specified in Japan's Building Energy Conservation Law). In essence, the building used zero energy from the power grid to complete its daily functions. If anything, it created energy. Pretty interesting stuff.

Mitsubishi Electric has also been a part of the car technology in Mitsubishi Motors models. Cybersecurity is becoming an increasing threat for anyone with a digital life, connected to everything with an email login. To combat cyber security, Mitsubishi Electric has designed a system made up of robust security features, including an intrusion detection system that can detect cyber attacks on the automotive head unit. All of the programs together to act as an antivirus program for automotive cyber security.

This new technology is also one for automobile models. In Japan, heart disease, epilepsy, and cerebrovascular disease are the top three medical causes linked to car accidents that result in death or serious injury. In just about any country, a sudden heart attack or stroke are among medical issues that could cause an incident while driving. Using Mitsubishi Electric's proprietary AI to estimate1 biometric data and proprietary Maisart®2 AI technology, Mitsubishi Electric created a contactless Driver Monitoring System (DMS) camera to estimate biometric data such as pulse rate, pulse interval, pulse intensity, and changes in blood pressure based on data collected from the driver. Because drivers who lose consciousness may not always slump over, detecting something other than a posture a driver may have if they fall asleep at the wheel (used for Driver Attention Warning Systems), this technology monitors the consumer’s vitals and whether or not they are conscious.

AI technology is becoming a growing part of the auto industry and how drivers are connected to their cars. Want to stay up to date on the latest car technology? Follow along with us on NowCar social media.

Photo Source/Copyright: Mitsubishi Media