A digitally embroidered metamaterial biosensor for kinetic environments

Biosensors could be used in vehicles to monitor driver alertness, detect impairment and gauge stress levels. However, measuring biomarkers, such as heart rate and respiration, without physical contact remains a challenge in these environments due to issues related to movement and external interference. Here we report a metamaterial biosensor that can capture cardiopulmonary signals in kinetic environments without being in contact with the body. Fabricated using digital embroidery, the biosensor can be integrated with a safety harness and can detect physiological motion through near-field interactions between wireless signals and the body. We show that the approach is capable of continuous, hour-long recording of heartbeat and respiration in an airline cabin simulator. We also show that the biosensor can operate in a moving car, and exhibits no degradation in accuracy compared with a stationary environment. A textile metamaterial sensor can wirelessly measure biomarkers—such as heart rate and respiration—in vehicles and shows no accuracy degradation when operating in moving environments.