Volvo S80 detects intruders' heartbeats

Perhaps the nicest thing about living in a city with great public transportation is that we've almost forgotten the gripping panic that used to overcome us each time we went out to the car alone at night, terrified that the proverbial "man-with-the-hook" was secreted away in the backseat somewhere. Well it seems that the engineers at Volvo also know our fear, and have incorporated a heartbeat sensor inside the new S80 sedan that alerts your wireless key fob if there's a criminal-type lying in wait for you as you approach. Although this tech would do a bit to alleviate our irrational fear, the logical side of us realizes that if a ne'er-do-well could crack the rest of Volvo's tight security features to break into our ride unnoticed, he could probably disable this heartbeat sensor as well. Like we said, it's probably best that we stick to public transportation.

[Via Autoblog]

[Andrew Stone @ Feb 7th 2006 10:56PM]

Because i'm sure the NY subways boast a "murder in vehicle" rate way lower than the cars in Boise... oh, wait... nevermind.

[LCD Kid @ Feb 7th 2006 11:01PM]

awesome Scream face in the back seat, took me a while to notice

[guano @ Feb 7th 2006 11:32PM]

They must have taken a clue from Rainbow Six.

[alienshards @ Feb 8th 2006 12:21AM]

This would be very useful, in fact.

ever heard of babies being left in a car in the summer heat and dying?

this technology could remind a forgetful parent and save lives.

[Gym @ Feb 8th 2006 12:25AM]

Why is this better than other type of sensors? In fact it's worse, I think.

[Ivo @ Feb 8th 2006 12:36AM]

Um yea, lucky bitches. Our public transport sucks.

Translink (Vancouver) > Metro (Seattle) by far.

[Happy Tinfoil Cat @ Feb 8th 2006 12:51AM]

Like alenshards said. I certainly wish every car had alarms for babies being left in cars. It's a horrible thing to see. And it happens far more frequently than the guy in the backseat. (those types jump you as you get in)

[Patrick @ Feb 8th 2006 1:51AM]

Agree with Alenshards as well.
Back to topic, do you really think this technology useful?

[Sam @ Feb 8th 2006 3:36AM]

That photo is creeping the hell out of me.

[Ken McGuire @ Feb 8th 2006 4:06AM]

My bet is that if he cracks the rest of the security (given you've remembered to switch it on) then the said intruder has no fear anyway....

Could be quite interesting all the same, more of a peace-of-mind factor for the paranoid?

[HP @ Feb 8th 2006 5:02AM]

I would like to have such Volvo, even without heartbeat sensor :)

[sxt173 @ Feb 8th 2006 5:30AM]

I think the 'intruder' part is a neat function (albeit really odd marketing), but think of the other applications down the road:
Like integration with OnStar type of systems, so paramedics know your vitals, such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, etc even before arriving on the scene...

[Osiris @ Feb 8th 2006 6:36AM]

No, it'll just mean neglectful mothers can check if their child is'nt dead when they do leave them in their cars.
How does it detect heart rate? Just sitting on a seat is'nt enough, is this referring to when someone holds the steering wheel?

[z @ Feb 8th 2006 6:40AM]

So, if I understand correctly, it will not detect the corpse rotting on the back seat?

[jimbob @ Feb 8th 2006 6:49AM]

you know, I've never thought of that b4, thanks...

now I'll be looking over my shoulder thinking someones going to garrotte me

[Tyler Durden @ Feb 8th 2006 9:49AM]

I would think that a thief with an eye for fine Swedish sedans would be much more calm than someone experiencing severe Road Rage.

Why should a car booster have an elevated heart rate? Not like coppers are going after them or anything.

[Tyler Durden @ Feb 8th 2006 9:53AM]

I would think that a thief with an eye for fine Swedish sedans would be much more calm than someone experiencing severe Road Rage.

Why should a car booster have an elevated heart rate? Not like coppers are going after them or anything.

[bryantchoung @ Feb 8th 2006 9:54AM]

I don't understand why they can't use just a motion sensor. I know my car has that.

Plus the heartbeat sensor won't protect you against zombies or other walking dead.

[Rubberdemon @ Feb 8th 2006 11:19AM]

Okay, nobody has said this yet, but I just have to - do people really hide in the back seats of cars? I'm highly skeptical. Other than in every TV show or movie ever made, I've never, ever heard of this happening in the real world.

[armelo @ Feb 8th 2006 11:51AM]

You must not live in New York City.

[DM @ Feb 8th 2006 12:28PM]

@Rubberdemon
I second that!

So does that really happen?

[Skippi @ Feb 8th 2006 12:38PM]

just thinking that making love in the backseat of this car can also produce suspicous heartbeats and what if the car decides to alert e.g. parents that you are "abusing" their car :-) or daughter...

[Sumer @ Feb 9th 2006 12:27AM]

I want a car that detects and shoots a bullet into the heart of anyone who looks suspicious.

[andy zhang @ May 25th 2006 2:07PM]

my dad has a 2005 volvo s80. it's pretty awsome. the new lights look like some ford's from 90's, thats the only thing i dont like. hearbeat sensor just senses heartbeat of any rate, so unless you're a ninja it does work. haven't you guys heard of all the motion sensor blocking tricks? the other thing i found on the s80 minisite is the keyless door and ignition - how easy does that make it for thieves? find a volvo radiokey on the floor, walk around the garage/parking lot, and get the car started without even being noticed. although it's pretty cool. then again, why is the key still so humongous? have you seen those renault credit card sized keycards?

[Thomas Hutchings @ Feb 13th 2008 11:41PM]

Do they have sensors that detects farts or maybe pirates? I would want to know if a farty pirate was in my car.
How long has this heartbeat sensors technology existed and why has it not been installed in the toilet at Kinkos and Starbucks. I think they will do more good there.

[sean @ Feb 14th 2008 1:53PM]

well ford went all out in this one jeez