Hands-on-Detection based on Time Domain Reflectometry

This paper presents a method for spatial hands-on detection, which not only allows the recognition of the hands-on the steering wheel, but also at which location and strength the driver is gripping the wheel allowing a classification if the grip complies with safety regulations. This paper discusses the selected measurement principle called time domain reflectometry and how the corresponding measurement setup can be implemented inside a steering wheel. Based on a series of tests different machine learning approaches are reviewed which obtain the location as well as the grip strength based on the output of the time domain reflectometry.