Driving burden reduction device

Abstract

To provide a driving sense-of-burden reduction system making it possible to minimize a driver's sense of burden to be perceived during driving.SOLUTION: A driving sense-of-burden reduction system of the present disclosure includes: a driving burden estimation unit 110 that estimates a driving burden concerning a driving manipulation of a driver of a vehicle; a five senses stimulus provision unit 120 that provides the driver with a five senses stimulus for use in improving a driver's condition during traveling; and a five senses stimulus control unit 130 that controls the five senses stimulus provided by the five senses stimulus provision unit. The five senses stimulus control unit changes a working state of the five senses stimulus provided by the five senses stimulus provision unit on the basis of the driving burden estimated by the driving burden estimation unit, thereby, feeds back the driving burden to the driver, and prompts the driver to recognize that the driver himself / herself is controlling the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a driving burden reduction device. [Background technology]

[0002] Known examples of doze prevention devices include the one described in Patent Document 1. The doze prevention device in Patent Document 1 includes an information acquisition means for acquiring information about the driver's drowsiness, a drowsiness level determination means for determining the intensity of drowsiness (drowsiness level) from the drowsiness information, an awakening means for providing a stimulus to awaken the driver, and an awakening control means for controlling the awakening means so that the degree of awakening of the driver increases as the driver's drowsiness level increases.

[0003] As a result, in order to wake up the driver, a stimulus is given to the driver such that the greater the driver's level of drowsiness, the greater the degree of awakening, so that the driver can be woken up in a more comfortable manner. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-186276 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 uses stimulation of the five senses to improve the driver's state, which corresponds to unpleasant feelings and emotions in Russell's circumplex model, such as drowsiness, stress, irritation, and fatigue, and does not reduce the sense of burden while driving.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a driving burden reduction device that can reduce the burden felt by a driver while driving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure employs the following technical means.

[0008] In the driving burden reduction device disclosed herein, A driving load estimation unit (110) that estimates a driving load related to a driving operation of a driver of a vehicle; a five-sensory stimulation providing unit (120) that provides a five-sensory stimulation to the driver to improve the driver's condition while driving; a five-sensory stimulation control unit (130) that controls the five-sensory stimulation provided by the five-sensory stimulation providing unit; The five-sensory stimulation control unit changes the operation state of the five-sensory stimulation provided by the five-sensory stimulation providing unit based on the driving load estimated by the driving load estimating unit, thereby providing feedback of the driving load to the driver and making the driver recognize that he or she is controlling the vehicle. The operation state of the five senses stimulation is set to an upper limit value and a lower limit value in advance, and the five senses stimulation control unit changes the operation state of the five senses stimulation based on the driving load within the range of the upper limit value and the lower limit value, and the change in the operation state of the five senses stimulation is a change in the stimulation intensity for the driver, and the stimulation intensity is set to change logarithmically according to the driving load so as to change more gradually in an area where the driving load level is relatively high compared to an area where the driving load level is relatively low. do.

[0009] According to the present disclosure, the operating state of the five senses stimulation provided based on the driving load is changed, and the driving load is fed back to the driver. Therefore, the driver can recognize that he or she is in control of the vehicle, and the sense of burden associated with the driving operation can be reduced.

[0010] The reference characters in parentheses for each of the above means indicate the corresponding relationship with the specific means described in the embodiments below. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a graph showing the results of an absolute evaluation of a sense of burden in driving operations. [Diagram 2] 11 is a graph showing the results of a relative evaluation of a sense of burden in driving operations. [Diagram 3] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of a driving burden reduction device; [Figure 4] 1 is a graph showing the relationship between driving load and stimulus intensity. [Diagram 5]4 is a graph showing the relationship between the upward illuminance outside the vehicle and the luminance of the lighting inside the vehicle; [Figure 6] 1 is a graph showing characteristics of stimulation intensity. [Figure 7] 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the vertical acceleration of the vehicle and seat vibration stimulation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, a number of embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, the same reference numerals may be used to designate parts corresponding to matters described in the preceding embodiment, and duplicated descriptions may be omitted. In each embodiment, when only a part of the configuration is described, other embodiments described previously may be applied to other parts of the configuration. In addition to combinations of parts that are specifically indicated as being possible in each embodiment, it is also possible to partially combine embodiments even if not indicated, as long as there is no particular problem with the combination.

[0013] (First embodiment) A driving burden reduction device 100 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The driving burden reduction device 100 is a device that reduces the driver's sense of burden when driving.

[0014] Driving burden refers to the feeling of workload in driving operations, including unpleasant feelings such as anxiety, disappointment, irritation, stress, and worry, as well as the feeling that one needs energy and physical strength, that one must work hard, and a sense of time urgency. ISO6835 defines workload as "the effect of workload in relation to individual characteristics and abilities," and workload as "the total amount of external conditions and demands that act to disturb a person's physiological and psychological state in a work system."

[0015] The developer of the present disclosure discovered that it is possible to reduce the sense of burden of driving by changing the five senses stimuli (here, the brightness of the interior lighting) provided to the driver depending on the load situation related to the driving operation, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The five senses in the five senses stimulation are sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, and at least one of these is included in this embodiment.

[0016] Figure 1 shows the results of absolute assessment of workload using the Dunnett method. In Figure 1, for example, in a driving test (n=7 people) on a course that included curves and right and left turns at intersections as driving load, we took up the luminance of interior lighting as a stimulus to the driver's five senses, and confirmed how the subjective workload assessment scale, NASA-TLX, changed by changing the way the luminance of interior lighting was provided.

[0017] During driving tests, the developers confirmed that the NASA-TLX's interior lighting brightness gradually decreased by changing the brightness from "lights off" to "lights on (no brightness control in line with driving load)" to "lights on (brightness control in line with driving load)."

[0018] Figure 2 shows the results of the relative evaluation of the sense of burden by the Wilcoxon rank sum test. In Figure 2, for example, in a driving test (n=7 people) on a course that included curves and right and left turns at intersections as driving burdens, as in the case of Figure 1, the brightness of the interior lighting was taken up as a stimulus to the five senses of the driver, and it was confirmed how the "enjoyment" felt by the driver changed by changing the way the brightness of the interior lighting was provided.

[0019] During driving tests, the developer of the present disclosure confirmed that "enjoyment" was improved by changing the brightness of the interior lighting from "lights on (no control over brightness changes in accordance with driving load)" to "lights on (with control over brightness changes in accordance with driving load)."

[0020] In a survey of subjects about the control of the five senses in accordance with the driving load, the common reasons given for the answers "It was fun" and "I felt satisfied" were as follows: -Feel like you're driving, or - Feel a sense of unity with the vehicle, or - The comments included that the driver's response to their driving operations made them feel treated well and that the driver was considerate.

[0021] In other words, the driver is stimulated by the five senses according to the driving load and recognizes the driving situation, which allows the driver to better understand the situation he or she is in. By accurately understanding the situation, the driver's perception of the driving load changes, and by recognizing that it is not something that the driver cannot handle, but that he or she is in control of the vehicle (driving operation is being performed properly), the driver can obtain a positive impression that he or she can handle the same driving load. From this, the driver has gained the knowledge that the driver's sense of burden related to driving operation can be reduced, which has led to the proposal of the present disclosure.

[0022] The configuration, operation and effect of the driving strain reduction device 100 will be described below.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the driving burden reduction device 100 includes a detection unit 111, a camera 112, a sensor 113, a map database 114, a driving load estimation unit 110, a five-senses stimulation provision unit 120, and a five-senses stimulation control unit 130.

[0024] The detection unit 111 is, for example, a vehicle speed sensor, a steering wheel, a turn signal lever, pedals (accelerator pedal, brake pedal), etc. The vehicle speed sensor outputs a vehicle speed signal, the steering wheel outputs a steering angle signal, the turn signal lever outputs a right / left turn signal, and the pedals output an acceleration / deceleration signal to the driving load estimation unit 110.

[0025] The camera 112 is provided, for example, outside or inside the vehicle, and outputs to the driving load estimation unit 110 a distance signal between the vehicle itself and a preceding vehicle, a face image signal of the driver, and the like.

[0026] The sensor 113 outputs, for example, surrounding vehicle signals (signals indicating the positional relationship between the vehicle itself and surrounding vehicles), upward illuminance signals outside the vehicle (brightness above due to weather), and vertical acceleration signals of the vehicle to the driving load estimation unit 110.

[0027] The map database 114 shares map data with a car navigation system, for example, and outputs to the driving load estimating unit 110 map data relating to road conditions during driving (road type, ups and downs, sharp curves, road width, etc.).

[0028] The driving load estimation unit 110 is a part that estimates the driving load related to the driving operation of the driver of the vehicle. The driving load estimation unit 110 estimates the driving load that changes during driving by using a driving load estimation algorithm that is predetermined to match the degree of the driving load that the driver subjectively judges (the amount of cognition, judgment, and operation per unit time related to driving) using various signals obtained from the above-mentioned detection unit 111, camera 112, sensor 113, map database 114, etc. Note that the subjective impression of the driver is collected in a state where the driver is not stimulated by the five senses.

[0029] For example, the driving load estimation unit 110 estimates that the driving load is higher when the vehicle speed signal is higher, the steering angle signal is larger, and when there is a right / left turn signal, the change in the acceleration / deceleration signal is larger. Taking the difference in driving patterns as an example, the driving load increases in the order of curved road → lane change → intersection. The driving load estimation unit 110 also estimates that the driving load is higher when the distance signal to the preceding vehicle is shorter, the driver's expression in the face image signal is stiff, and the number of times the vehicle is checked around is greater. The driving load estimation unit 110 also estimates that the driving load is higher when there are more surrounding vehicles and the distance is closer in the surrounding vehicle signal, the upper illuminance signal is darker, and the vertical acceleration signal is larger. The driving load estimation unit 110 also estimates that the driving load is higher when the road has a higher driving difficulty in the map data during driving. The driving load estimation unit 110 outputs the estimated driving load data to the five senses stimulation control unit 130.

[0030] The five-sensory stimulation providing unit 120 is a part that provides the driver with five-sensory stimulation to improve the driver's condition while driving. The five-sensory stimulation providing unit 120 can be, for example, an in-vehicle light, a display unit such as a meter, a vibration device that vibrates the seat, a speaker that outputs a stimulating sound, an air pack that exerts a massage effect on the driver, etc. The five-sensory stimulation providing unit 120 is capable of adjusting the magnitude of various five-sensory stimulations that are output. Hereinafter, a case where the five-sensory stimulation providing unit 120 is used as a representative example will be described.

[0031] The five-sense stimulation control unit 130 is a part that changes (varies) the operating state (stimulation intensity) of the five-sense stimulation provided by the five-sense stimulation providing unit 120 based on the driving load estimated by the driving load estimating unit 110.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4 (FIG. 5, FIG. 6), the five senses stimulation control section 130 sets the stimulation intensity to be smaller as the estimated driving load becomes larger.

[0033] 5 (FIG. 6), an upper limit and a lower limit are set in advance as a range (range of stimulation intensity) in the operating state of the five senses stimulation. The five senses stimulation control unit 130 changes the stimulation intensity within the range between the upper limit and the lower limit based on the driving load.

[0034] The upper limit is a value within a range that the driver can tolerate while driving (a range that does not interfere with driving), and the lower limit is a value within a range that the driver can notice while driving.

[0035] In addition, the threshold for the five senses stimulation (stimulus intensity) may be lowered when combined with other stimuli (for example, lighting and sound). Therefore, it is necessary to check whether there is a significant difference in the upper limit between a single stimulation and a combination of stimulations. If there is no difference, the upper limit value examined for the single stimulation may be used.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a case where the stimulus intensity is the luminance of the light from the interior lighting (interior lighting luminance), and the upper limit and lower limit are set according to the environmental conditions inside and outside the vehicle (here, the upward illuminance outside the vehicle). In other words, when the environmental conditions inside and outside the vehicle are the upward illuminance outside the vehicle, the luminance of the light from the interior lighting is changed between the upper limit and the lower limit according to this upward illuminance. Note that the upward illuminance outside the vehicle means the brightness outside the vehicle due to the weather, and for example, the levels are set in the order of night, twilight, daytime (cloudy), and daytime (sunny) from the low side to the high side. The upper limit and lower limit are set to be larger as the upward illuminance becomes higher.

[0037] The five senses stimulation control section 130 sets upper and lower limit values ​​at a number of representative points of upward illuminance (nighttime, evening, twilight, cloudy, fine weather), and linearly approximates and interpolates values ​​between the respective representative points.

[0038] In addition, the stimulation intensity is set to change (decrease) logarithmically according to the driving load, as shown in Fig. 6. When the driving load level difference is set at equal intervals, the stimulation intensity decreases sharply in the region where the driving load level is relatively low, and decreases gently in the region where the driving load level is relatively high.

[0039] In the driving burden reduction device 100 of the present disclosure, the driving burden is fed back to the driver by changing the operating state of the five senses stimulation provided based on the driving load by the five senses stimulation control unit 130. Therefore, the driver can recognize that he or she is in control of the vehicle, and the sense of burden associated with driving operations can be reduced.

[0040] In addition, upper and lower limit values ​​are set in advance for the operating state of the five senses stimulation, and the five senses stimulation control unit 130 changes the operating state of the five senses stimulation based on the driving load within the range of the upper and lower limit values, so that appropriate five senses stimulation can be provided to the driver.

[0041] In addition, the upper limit value of the five senses stimulation is set as a value within a range that the driver can tolerate while driving, and the lower limit value of the five senses stimulation is set as a value within a range that the driver can notice while driving, thereby enabling the five senses stimulation to be appropriate for the driver.

[0042] In addition, the change in the operating state of the five senses stimulation is a change in the stimulation intensity for the driver, and by changing (varying) the stimulation intensity, it is possible to control in an appropriate manner to reduce the sense of burden.

[0043] In addition, the stimulation intensity is set to change (decrease) logarithmically according to the driving load, so that the amount of change in the stimulation intensity can be increased in the area where the driving load is relatively low, and the amount of change in the stimulation intensity can be decreased in the area where the driving load is relatively high.

[0044] In addition, the stimulus intensity is set to be smaller as the driving load increases. In this way, in a region where the driving load is relatively low, the stimulus intensity can be increased to provide an effective stimulus to the driver, and in a region where the driving load is relatively high, the stimulus intensity can be decreased to avoid interfering with the driver's driving operation. In general, the burden on the driver can be effectively reduced.

[0045] Moreover, the stimulus intensity is easily applicable and suitable if it is set to the brightness of the light irradiated to the driver.

[0046] Furthermore, since the upper and lower limits are set according to the environmental conditions inside and outside the vehicle, it is possible to set a stimulation intensity that matches the environmental conditions.

[0047] In addition, the environmental conditions are favorable for the upward illumination outside the vehicle.

[0048] Furthermore, when the five-sense stimulation providing unit 120 provides light stimulation as a five-sense stimulation, the five-sense stimulation control unit 130 sets upper and lower limit values ​​at multiple representative points of the upward illuminance, and linearly approximates and interpolates the values ​​between the representative points. This makes it possible to easily estimate the values ​​between the representative points.

[0049] Second embodiment The driving burden reduction device 100 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The driving burden reduction device 100 of the second embodiment executes control using Fig. 7 in contrast to Fig. 5 described in the first embodiment. That is, the driving burden reduction device 100 of the second embodiment adopts the vertical acceleration of the vehicle as the environmental conditions inside and outside the vehicle, and changes the intensity of the vibration stimulus (tactile stimulus) by a vibration device that vibrates the seat as the stimulus intensity.

[0050] Here, the strength of the seat vibration stimulation is changed depending on the magnitude of the vertical acceleration of the vehicle, and the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0051] In addition, methods for changing the intensity of the stimulation provided to the driver may include changing the brightness of the display (meter, center display, etc.), changing the noise sound (stimulation sound) from the speaker, or changing the amount of pressure applied by the air pack.

[0052] (Other embodiments) The disclosure in this specification and drawings, etc. is not limited to the exemplified embodiments. The disclosure includes the exemplified embodiments and modifications by those skilled in the art based thereon. For example, the disclosure is not limited to the combination of parts and / or elements shown in the embodiments. The disclosure can be implemented by various combinations. The disclosure can have additional parts that can be added to the embodiments. The disclosure includes the omission of parts and / or elements of the embodiments. The disclosure includes the substitution or combination of parts and / or elements between one embodiment and another embodiment. The disclosed technical scope is not limited to the description of the embodiments. Some disclosed technical scopes are indicated by the description of the claims, and should be interpreted as including all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the description of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 100 Driving burden reduction device 110 Driving load estimation unit 120 Five sense stimulation provision department 130 Five-sense stimulation control unit

Claims

1. A driving load estimation unit (110) that estimates a driving load related to a driving operation of a driver of a vehicle; A five-sensory stimulation providing unit (120) that provides the driver with a five-sensory stimulation for improving the driver's condition while driving; A five-sense stimulation control unit (130) that controls the five-sense stimulation provided by the five-sense stimulation providing unit, the five-sense stimulation control unit changes an operation state of the five-sense stimulation provided by the five-sense stimulation providing unit based on the driving load estimated by the driving load estimation unit, thereby feeding back the driving load to the driver and making the driver recognize that the driver is controlling the vehicle by himself / herself; The operation state of the five senses stimulation has an upper limit value and a lower limit value set in advance, The five-senses stimulation control unit changes an operation state of the five-senses stimulation based on the driving load within a range between the upper limit value and the lower limit value, The change in the operation state of the five-sense stimulation is a change in a stimulation intensity for the driver, A driving burden reduction device in which the stimulation intensity is set to change logarithmically according to the driving load so that the stimulation intensity changes more gradually in an area where the level of the driving load is relatively high than in an area where the level of the driving load is relatively low.

2. The driving burden reducing device according to claim 1 , wherein the upper limit value of the stimulation to the five senses is set as a value within a range that is tolerable to the driver while driving.

3. 3. The driving burden reducing device according to claim 1, wherein the lower limit of the stimulation to the five senses is set as a range of values ​​that the driver can notice while driving.

4. 4. The driving burden reducing device according to claim 1, wherein the stimulation intensity is set to be smaller as the driving load increases.

5. 5. The driving burden reducing device according to claim 1, wherein the stimulation intensity is a luminance of light irradiated to the driver.

6. 6. The driving burden reducing device according to claim 1, wherein the upper limit value and the lower limit value are set in accordance with environmental conditions inside and outside the vehicle.

7. 7. The driving burden reducing device according to claim 6, wherein the environmental condition is an upward illuminance outside the vehicle.

8. The five-sensory stimulation providing unit is configured to provide a light stimulation as the five-sensory stimulation, The driving burden reduction device according to claim 7, wherein the five-senses stimulation control unit sets upper and lower limit values ​​at a plurality of representative points of the upward illuminance, and linearly approximates and interpolates values ​​between the respective representative points.

9. The driving burden reduction device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the five-sensory stimulation providing unit provides a tactile stimulation as the five-sensory stimulation.

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