This brilliant bed is designed to keep a mattress hogs to their side of the bed. Created by Ford, it is an ingenious idea that was dreamt up with the intention of solving one of the most annoying problems a couple could have – restless nights due to a bed-hogging partner.

Have you ever woken up, with a fright, in the middle of the night, to find yourself at the edge of the mattress, having been pushed there, just about to fall right out of bed? Or maybe you didn’t get shoved anywhere, but are rolled right on top of instead, waking up with the weight of a dead limb resting over your body? Well, that mean’s you’re sleeping with a bed hog and that pretty much guarantees you a rotten night’s sleep, that will leave you feeling drained and lethargic for the whole of the following day.

Dr. Neil Stanley, an independent sleep expert and author of How to Sleep Well explains:

“When sleeping together, many couples each have less space than a small child has in a single bed. Humans are most vulnerable when sleeping, so we’re programmed to wake when something or someone touches us unexpectedly. If someone moves onto your side of the bed this defense mechanism will kick in and you’ll have a broken night, often while they continue to sleep soundly. I’ve seen it ruin relationships.”

This is a serious matter! If you share a bed with a “space invader” you are loosing precious sleep time through the night just from having to reclaim a fair share of the mattress. Studies have shown that this is the case for 1 in 4 relationships. Furthermore, over time, sleep loss is a very dangerous matter as it increases the risk of injury and accidents at home, work, and on the road.

This issue is so common that the act of sleeping in separate beds has it’s own name now – it is a recognized trend called “sleep divorces”. But if this trend doesn’t appeal to you, there may soon be another option. It’s called the “Lane-Keeping Bed”. This new solution has been brought to light by Ford applying their car tech know-how to ensure that even the most selfish bed mate stays firmly “in their lane” throughout the night.

How Does It Work?

Ford’s smart bed uses pressure sensors to identify when someone has strayed from their side of the mattress, shifting, shoving, or shuffling their way into your space. When the sensors have been activated, the contraption rolls the selfish sleeper back into their rightful place – on their side of the bed. An integrated conveyor belt, that is built into the mattress, returns the person to their zone, giving you your space back.

The Inspiration

Lane-Keeping Aid is a Ford technology available, and already incorporated into, most Ford vehicles today. It is a safety-focused, driver-assist system that works using sensors which monitor the road markings ahead.

If the sensors detect that the car is veering off course, the system actively supports the driver by gently guiding the vehicle back into the correct lane by “nudging” the steering wheel in the appropriate direction. This technology complements other camera-based systems. Together, these helpful systems ensure the prevention of drivers straying out of their lane.

Just A Dream

This wonderful bed is just a prototype for now. It is one of a series of Ford Interventions, all of which apply automotive expertise to tackle everyday – or in this case, every night – problems.

The post This Smart Bed Rolls A Bed Hogging Partner Back To Their Side Of The Mattress appeared first on Educate Inspire Change.