Method for redirecting a driver's attention

Abstract

Method for reorienting a driver's attention. One aspect of the invention relates to a method for reorienting the attention of a driver of a vehicle to at least one area of ​​interest that may present a danger, comprising the following steps: For each area of ​​interest in a set of areas of interest, calculation of a delay before intersection between the vehicle and said area of ​​interest; Evaluation of the direction of the driver's gaze; For each area of ​​interest for which the calculated delay is less than a first threshold: If the driver's gaze is directed towards a windshield pillar of the vehicle or if the angular deviation between the direction of the driver's gaze and a direction of said area of ​​interest relative to the driver is greater than a second threshold for a duration greater than a third threshold, display of a light indication in the direction of said area of ​​interest relative to the driver.

Description

Title of the invention: Method for redirecting a driver's attention. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of vehicles and more particularly that of devices for vehicles enabling driving to be less dangerous.

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for redirecting the attention of a vehicle driver, and in particular a method for redirecting the attention of a vehicle driver to at least one area of ​​interest that may present a danger. The present invention also relates to a vehicle and a computer program for implementing the method. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] French accident data reveals that nearly half of all accidents involving a car and other vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists) are due to impaired driver vigilance caused, for example, by fatigue, illness, the influence of alcohol or drugs, or distraction. In nearly one out of seven cases, these accidents resulted in death when pedestrians were involved.

[0004] Although other factors such as lighting and weather conditions influence these statistics, this evidence supports the need to improve this situation and reduce these events.

[0005] Some situations are particularly risky, for example when a pedestrian or another road user is hidden from the driver's view by one of the car's windshield pillars, especially when turning, or in the case of a pedestrian who suddenly appears behind a bus or truck on a pedestrian crossing.

[0006] There is therefore a need for a process to help the driver recognize these kinds of situations and thus avoid these accidents. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention offers a solution to the problems mentioned above, by allowing a driver's attention to be redirected towards areas that may present a danger.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for redirecting the attention of a vehicle driver to at least one area of ​​interest that may present a danger, comprising the following steps: • For each zone of interest in a set of zones of interest, calculation of a delay before intersection between the vehicle and said zone of interest; • Evaluation of the driver's gaze direction; • For each area of ​​interest for which the calculated delay is less than a first threshold: • If the driver's gaze is directed towards a windshield pillar of the vehicle or if the angular deviation between the direction of the driver's gaze and a direction of said area of ​​interest relative to the driver is greater than a second threshold for a duration greater than a third threshold, display of a light indication in the direction of said area of ​​interest relative to the driver.

[0009] Thanks to the invention, a visual alert in the direction of a real or potential nearby hazard is emitted to the driver to redirect their attention to that hazard. The alert is only triggered when the driver's gaze is sufficiently far from the direction of the hazard to be considered as if they were not paying attention to it, or in the particularly problematic case where the driver is looking at a windshield pillar, as the driver may appear to be looking in the correct direction but is not actually seeing the hazard. The visual alert thus serves as a suggestive aid, making driving less dangerous, and the choice of a directional indicator ensures minimal intrusion into the driving experience.

[0010] In addition to the characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the process according to the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics from among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the set of interest zones comprises each zone having an obstacle located on or near the immediate trajectory and / or the future trajectory of the vehicle, and / or a critical point of interest located on or near the immediate trajectory or the future trajectory of the vehicle.

[0012] According to a sub-variant embodiment of the previous variant embodiment, a critical point of interest is a pedestrian crossing or a bus stop.

[0013] According to an alternative embodiment of the previous sub-variant embodiment, a critical point of interest is masked at least in part by another vehicle.

[0014] According to a sub-embodiment of the preceding embodiment compatible with the preceding sub-embodiment, the method according to the invention comprises a step for determining the set of interest zones, including a sub-step for detecting each obstacle and / or at least one critical point of interest, in the vicinity of or on the immediate trajectory and / or the future trajectory of the vehicle using at least one sensor external to the vehicle, and / or a sub-step of consulting a database containing the location of a set of points of interest located near the vehicle.

[0015] Thus, the driver is alerted in the event that an obstacle close to the vehicle is directly observed by an external sensor of the vehicle or in the event that the vehicle approaches a particularly accident-prone area which is often not observable by the external sensors of the vehicle.

[0016] According to an embodiment compatible with the previous embodiments, the second threshold and / or the third threshold depends on at least one parameter relating to an external environment of the vehicle and / or the third threshold depends on the angular deviation between the direction of the driver's gaze and the direction of said area of ​​interest relative to the driver.

[0017] Thus, the level of confidence in the driver's awareness of the area of ​​interest corresponds to a theoretical level that is a function of the angular distance of the gaze from this area, which can evolve temporally more or less rapidly depending on environmental parameters.

[0018] According to a sub-embodiment of the previous embodiment, the parameter is traffic density or outdoor brightness.

[0019] According to an embodiment compatible with the previous embodiments, the method according to the invention comprises, if the angular deviation between the direction of the driver's gaze and the direction of said area of ​​interest relative to the driver is greater than a fourth threshold, a step of activating an audible alert and / or emitting vibrations via a haptic pedal of the vehicle.

[0020] Thus, if the driver's gaze is diverted beyond a certain threshold from the direction of the area of ​​interest, an audible alert and / or a haptic pedal are activated to cause a faster recovery of the driver's awareness.

[0021] According to a sub-embodiment of the previous embodiment, the fourth threshold corresponds to a typical angle of maximum peripheral vision of the driver.

[0022] A second aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle comprising means for implementing the method according to the invention.

[0023] A third aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the steps of the process according to the invention.

[0024] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting of the invention. • The [Fig. 1] is a synoptic diagram illustrating the sequence of steps of a process according to the invention. • Figure [Fig. 2] shows a schematic representation of a vehicle on which is applied the process according to the invention. • Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a windshield of the vehicle of the [Fig.2]. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing on different figures has a unique reference.

[0027] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for redirecting the attention of a driver of a vehicle to at least one area of ​​interest.

[0028] The area of ​​interest is an area located on or near the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or on which the vehicle will travel, and which is likely to present a danger to the driver of the vehicle and / or to another road user.

[0029] The vehicle is, for example, a car or a truck.

[0030] The sequence of steps of the process 100 is illustrated in [Fig.1] and an example of application on a vehicle 200 is illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0031] The method 100 according to the invention may include a first step 101 of determining a set of areas of interest 300.

[0032] The set of interest zones 300 includes, for example, each zone containing an obstacle 302 and / or a critical point of interest 303 located in the vicinity of or on the immediate path 2040 and / or the future path 2041 of the vehicle 200.

[0033] The immediate trajectory 2040 of the vehicle 200 is known, for example, using at least one speed sensor and / or at least one direction sensor of the vehicle 200.

[0034] The future trajectory 2041 of vehicle 200 is for example planned in a navigation system of vehicle 200.

[0035] In [Fig.2], vehicle 200 is travelling on a straight road and its immediate trajectory 2040 is therefore linear.

[0036] Vehicle 200 will turn left at the next intersection, its future trajectory 2041 is therefore curvilinear and oriented towards the road on the left perpendicular to the road in which it is traveling.

[0037] A critical point of interest 303 is a point of interest identified as accident-prone, such as a pedestrian crossing or a bus stop, particularly when it is hidden by another large vehicle, such as a bus or a truck.

[0038] In [Fig. 2], a first pedestrian identified as an obstacle 302 crosses the road on which the vehicle 200 is traveling, a second pedestrian considered as an obstacle 302 crosses the road on which vehicle 200 will turn and the road on which vehicle 200 is traveling has a pedestrian crossing identified as a critical point of interest 303.

[0039] The first step 101 may include a first sub-step 1010 of detecting each obstacle 302 and / or at least one point of interest 303 in the vicinity or on the immediate path 2040 and / or the future path 2041 of the vehicle 200.

[0040] Detection makes it possible, for example, to identify each obstacle 302 and possibly one or more points of interest 303, having a trajectory likely to cross the immediate trajectory 2040 and / or the future trajectory 2041 of the vehicle 200.

[0041] Detection is carried out for example using at least one external sensor 205 of the vehicle 200, for example an external camera and / or an external radar.

[0042] The first step 101 may include a second substep 1011 of consulting a database containing the location of a set of points of interest 303 located near the vehicle 200, the location of the vehicle 200 being obtained for example using a vehicle 200 location device, such as a GPS device.

[0043] Alternatively, the set of areas of interest 300 can be obtained directly by the vehicle 200, for example from a database shared between a fleet of connected vehicles.

[0044] A second step 102 of the process 100 consists, for each area of ​​interest 300 of the set of areas of interest 300, of calculating a delay before intersection between the vehicle 200 and said area of ​​interest 300.

[0045] The delay is calculated from the location and speed of the area of ​​interest 300, and the location and speed of the vehicle 200.

[0046] A third step 103 of the process 100 consists of evaluating the direction 202 of the driver's gaze 201, that is to say, determining where the driver's attention is located.

[0047] This evaluation is carried out for example using at least one interior camera of vehicle 200.

[0048] A fourth step 104 of the process 100 is carried out for each area of ​​interest 300 of the set of areas of interest 300, for which the delay calculated in the second step 102 is less than a first threshold.

[0049] The value of the first threshold is chosen so as to ensure the safety of the driver without unnecessarily stressing him.

[0050] The first threshold is for example 4 seconds.

[0051] The fourth step 104 is only carried out if the driver's gaze 201 is directed towards a windscreen pillar 2030 or if the driver's gaze 201 is not directed for a period greater than a third threshold towards the area of ​​interest 300 for which the time calculated in the second step 102 is less than a first threshold.

[0052] For example, it is considered that the gaze of the driver 201 is not directed towards the area of ​​interest 300 if an angular deviation A between the direction 202 of the gaze of the driver 201 and a direction 301 of said area of ​​interest 300 with respect to the driver 201 is greater than a second threshold.

[0053] The second threshold and / or the third threshold may depend on at least one parameter relating to an external environment of the vehicle 200, such as traffic density or external brightness.

[0054] The third threshold may depend on the angular deviation A between the direction 202 of the driver's gaze 201 and the direction 301 of said area of ​​interest 300 relative to the driver 201.

[0055] The direction 301 of said area of ​​interest 300 with respect to conductor 201 is defined as the direction corresponding to a straight line passing through conductor 201 and area of ​​interest 300.

[0056] The parameter relating to the external environment of the vehicle 200 can be obtained by at least one sensor of the vehicle, for example an external camera, or from a database shared between a fleet of connected vehicles.

[0057] In [Fig.2], driver 201 has his gaze directed towards a traffic light while a Pedestrian 302 crosses the road.

[0058] The fourth step 104 of the method 100 consists of displaying a light indication 2031 in the direction 301 of said area of ​​interest 300 with respect to the conductor 201.

[0059] This display is for example made on the windscreen 203 or on an interior screen of the vehicle 200, for example using a light strip 2032 comprising a plurality of sections which can be lit individually.

[0060] Fig. 3 shows the windscreen 203 of the vehicle 200 of Fig. 2 with a light strip 2032 located at the bottom of the windscreen 203. The angular difference A between the direction 202 of the driver's gaze 201 and the direction 301 of the pedestrian 302 relative to the driver 201 is sufficiently large for a light indication to be displayed on the windscreen 203 of the vehicle 200 by lighting up the section of the light strip 2032 corresponding to the direction of the pedestrian 302 relative to the driver and turning off the other sections of the light strip 2032.

[0061] The method 100 according to the invention may include a fifth step 105 consisting of activating an audible alert via an internal audible device of the vehicle 200 and / or emitting at least one vibration via a haptic pedal of the vehicle 200.

[0062] The fifth step 105 is only carried out if the angular deviation A between the direction 202 of the driver's gaze 201 and the direction 301 of said area of ​​interest 300 with respect to the driver 201 is greater than a fourth threshold.

[0063] The fourth threshold is, for example, set so as to correspond to the typical maximum peripheral vision angle of the driver 201.

[0064] A second aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle 200 enabling the implementation of the method 100 according to the invention.

[0065] The vehicle 200 includes at least one external sensor 205, such as a camera or radar, at least one internal camera, a geolocation device, at least one speed sensor and / or at least one direction sensor, a navigation system and a computer.

[0066] The vehicle 200 may also include at least one interior sound device capable of emitting an audible alert and / or a haptic pedal capable of emitting vibrations.

Claims

Demands

1. A method (100) for redirecting the attention of a driver (201) of a vehicle (200) to at least one area of ​​interest (300) that may present a danger, comprising the following steps: - For each area of ​​interest (300) in a set of areas of interest (300), calculation (102) of a time before intersection between the vehicle (200) and said area of ​​interest (300); - Evaluation (103) of the direction (202) of the driver's gaze (201);- For each area of ​​interest (300) for which the calculated time is less than a first threshold: • If the driver's gaze (201) is directed towards a windscreen pillar (2030) of the vehicle (200) or if the angular deviation (A) between the direction (202) of the driver's gaze (201) and a direction (301) of said area of ​​interest (300) relative to the driver (201) is greater than a second threshold for a duration greater than a third threshold, display (104) of a light indication (2031) in the direction (301) of said area of ​​interest (300) relative to the driver (201).

2. A method (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the set of interest zones (300) comprises each zone having an obstacle (302) located on or near the immediate path (2040) and / or the future path (2041) of the vehicle (200), and / or a critical interest point (303) located on or near the immediate path (2040) or the future path (2041) of the vehicle (200).

3. Method (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein a critical point of interest (303) is a pedestrian crossing or a bus stop.

4. Method (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a critical point of interest (303) is masked at least in part by another vehicle.

5. A method (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising a step (101) for determining the set of interest zones (300) comprising a substep (1010) for detecting each obstacle (302) and / or at least one critical interest point (303), in the vicinity or on the immediate path (2040) and / or the future path (2041) of the vehicle (200) using at least one sensor (205) outside the vehicle (200), and / or a substep (1011) of consulting a database containing the location of a set of points of interest (303) located in the vicinity of the vehicle (200).

6. Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second threshold and / or the third threshold depend on at least one parameter relating to an external environment of the vehicle (200) and / or the third threshold depends on the angular deviation (A) between the direction (202) of the driver's gaze (201) and the direction (301) of said area of ​​interest (300) relative to the driver (201).

7. Method (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the parameter is traffic density or outdoor brightness.

8. Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising, if the angular deviation (A) between the direction (202) of the driver's gaze (201) and the direction (301) of said area of ​​interest (300) relative to the driver (201) is greater than a fourth threshold, a step (105) of activating an audible alert and / or emitting vibrations via a haptic pedal of the vehicle (200).

9. Method (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the fourth threshold corresponds to a typical angle of maximum peripheral vision of the driver (201).

10. Vehicle (200) comprising means for implementing the method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. Product computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the process (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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