Tracking Driver's Foot Movements Using mmWave FMCW Radar

Monitoring driver's foot movements can be used to assess their preparedness to assume the vehicle's control and to provide insights into their overall condition. While cameras and capacitive sensors have been employed to gather data on pedal-bound foot actions, the accuracy of readings provided by these systems can be compromised under constrained light conditions and fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels, respectively. Recently, radio-frequency waves were utilized to remotely recognize driver's activities. However, most of the RF-based works focus on the identification of the driver's intent by extracting information from the movements done by the driver's upper body. In this paper, we present a feasibility study on the application of millimeter-wave frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar for tracking a driver's foot. Movements such as pedal actuation and transitions between pedals are analyzed, and experimental results demonstrate the potential of integrating the proposed method into advanced assistance systems.