Ford's 'Smart Bed' Rolls Selfish Sleepers Back into Place

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At the end of a hectic day, cosying up to the one you love should be a welcome relief. But for those who share their bed with a “space invader”, precious hours can be lost simply trying to reclaim a fair share of the mattress.

And it's not just the fact that you're waking up every day in a foul mood with your partner; sleep loss is actually detrimental to your health and can turn you into a liability. Studies show that over time, sleep loss increases the risk of injury and accidents at home, work and on the road. 

With one in four people in relationships claiming to sleep better alone, it's perhaps no surprise that 'sleep divorces' - basically choosing to sleep in a separate bed from your partner - are on the rise. 

But pause before you ink that nocturnal decree nisi, because Ford and its agency, GTB, have come up with a nifty solution to demarcate bed territories and stop mattress hoggers from straying outside their territory: a lane-keeping bed.

The product, which uses uses pressure sensors to identify when someone has strayed from their side of the bed and gently returns them to where they should be with the help of an integrated conveyor belt. It was inspired by Ford's existing 'lane-keeping aid' tech, available in most Ford vehicles, which monitors the road markings ahead and actively supports the driver to safely guide the vehicle back into the correct lane by “nudging” the steering wheel in the correct direction. 

Check out the case study video, top, to see the bed in action (no, not that sort of action. It might be Valentine's Day, but let's keep it clean, please).

“When sleeping together, many couples each have less space than a small child has in a single bed,” said Dr Neil Stanley, an independent sleep expert and author of How to Sleep Well. “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 defence mechanism will kick in and you’ll have a broken night, often while they continue to sleep soundly. I’ve seen it ruin relationships.”

Sadly only a prototype at present, the Lane-Keeping Bed is part of Ford's Interventions series, which apply automotive expertise to tackle everyday problems. Previous inventions include a noise-cancelling kennel to calm firework-phobic dogs and a crib that mimics the action of a car to soothe restless babies.