Imagine a world in which your car knows more about your health than your GP, and starting the engine depends on whether you are sober. This is not a scenario from a science fiction movie, but the inevitable future of transport, which is already knocking on the door. The German company trinamiX, part of the chemical giant BASF, is about to cause a real revolution in security by turning the driver's workplace into a biometric analysis laboratory.
CES 2026: Where technology puts an end to secrets
At the upcoming CES 2026 technology show in Las Vegas, trinamiX is preparing to present a whole range of advanced monitoring systems that will fundamentally change the way we look at safety. We are no longer talking about just lane-keeping assistants. This is a shift to digital driver monitoring that could soon become a standard feature in every new car – both commercial and private.
Leading manufacturers such as Volvo Trucks and Mercedes-Benz Trucks have already announced the integration of driver-facing cameras. And now comes the next level – direct reading of your physical and mental state.
From alcohol to heart attack: The on-board doctor is uncompromising
The core of trinamiX's innovations lies in three key technologies that question the need for traditional testing methods.
NIR spectroscopy – Mouthpiece-free sobriety detector (SEO: NIR spectroscopy, mouthpiece-free alcohol test): No more uncomfortable snoring! This technology allows for contactless determination of the level of alcohol in the body. To start the engine, you will need to touch your finger to a small sensor on the dashboard. This will allow for the easy creation of so-called “alcohol interlocks“, preventing even the thought of driving while intoxicated.
Remote monitoring of vital signs (SEO: Contactless pulse measurement, remote monitoring): With the help of advanced sensors, the system will be able to contactlessly measure heart rate and monitor for dangerous anomalies. Imagine – your car can automatically detect early signs of a heart attack or stroke and sound an alarm before you even realize you're in danger.
Biometric image analysis (SEO: Biometric cameras, driver position): Smart cameras will analyze your eye movements, concentration level, and even your head and body position. They will be able to draw conclusions about your physical fatigue and even check whether your seat belt is properly fastened.
These high-tech solutions are even able to determine the driver's body temperature and blood pressure. In fact, your entire physiology will be on display in front of the on-board electronics!
Prospects: When industry and government embrace
Given BASF's enormous influence on the global automotive industry and its long-standing ties with government circles around the world, experts are convinced: the introduction of such biometric systems into mass production in the coming years is inevitable.
The entry of these technologies, which analyze our every glance and pulse, marks a major transition. The driver's cabin is turning from a personal sanctuary into a strictly monitored zone where your safety – or rather your compliance with the norms – is under constant electronic surveillance. Even if it sounds like an invasion of personal space, this is the price society is willing to pay for safer roads.