Smart beds ensure good night's sleep by keeping partner on their side

A new smart bed - which rolls selfish sleepers back to their side of the mattress when they stray on to the other half - could save relationships.

Ford has adapted the lane-centering assist technology used to ensure drivers remain in the middle of their lane into a concept it calls the Lane-Centring Bed, in a bid to help sleep-deprived partners pushed to the edge of the bed at night.

Pressure sensors detect when a person moves from one side of the bed to the other and they are then gently rolled back to their side with the help of an integrated conveyor belt.

The Lane-Centring Bed was created as part of an exploratory project of the car maker’s technology aimed at tackling everyday problems and is still a prototype for now.

Sleep expert Dr Neil Stanley said: "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 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."

Anthony Ireson, Ford of Europe's marketing communication director, added: "Lane-Centring Assist in our cars can make driving easier and more comfortable.

"We thought that showing how similar thinking could be applied to a bed, would be a great way to highlight to drivers a technology that they might not previously have been aware of."