Autonomous Driving Boundary Calculation for Driver Readiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous driving systems in vehicles lack a reliable method to continuously establish a boundary for autonomous driving availability, leading to potential safety issues when drivers are not adequately prepared to take manual control, especially when distracted or occupied.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize remote sensors, vehicle dynamics sensors, a positioning arrangement, route planning, vehicle driver monitoring, and real-time information acquisition to continuously calculate and communicate the boundary for autonomous driving availability, providing timely alerts and updates to the driver through a human-machine interface, ensuring safe transitions from autonomous to manual driving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle runs in autonomous mode for extended periods, then driver workload is reduced, but driver readiness to respond to manual control requests deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously calculating the boundary for autonomous driving availability in advance and informing the driver before the boundary is reached. This allows the driver to be prepared and transition smoothly to manual control when needed, maintaining driver readiness while enabling extended autonomous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the boundary for autonomous driving availability and providing real-time information to the driver through the human-machine interface. This feedback loop ensures the driver remains aware of autonomous driving limitations and maintains readiness to take control when approaching boundary conditions.
2Productivity
If the driver is occupied with non-driving activities, then autonomous mode utilization increases, but response time to manual control requests deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and communicates boundary information in advance before the driver needs to respond. By providing early warning when approaching boundary conditions, the system gives the driver sufficient time to transition from non-driving activities to manual control, preventing dangerous delays in response.
3Reliability
If sudden manual control requests are made, then safety is maintained, but driver stress and readiness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary notification by continuously informing the driver about the boundary for autonomous driving availability before it is reached. This advance notice allows the driver to prepare mentally and physically for the transition, reducing stress and improving readiness when manual control is suddenly required.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a method and an apparatus (1) for continuously establishing a boundary for autonomous driving availability, in a vehicle (2) having autonomous driving capabilities and comprising remote sensors (3) for acquiring vehicle surrounding information (4) and vehicle dynamics sensors (5) for determining vehicle dynamics parameters (6), as well as a vehicle (2) comprising such an apparatus (1). At least one of a positioning arrangement (7) that provides map data with associated information; a route planning arrangement (8) that enables route planning; a vehicle driver monitoring arrangement (9) that provides driver monitoring information (10); and a real time information acquiring arrangement, that acquires at least one of traffic information (11 a) and weather information (11 b). The boundary is calculated based on a planned route and at least one of vehicle surrounding information (4), vehicle dynamics parameters (6), driver monitoring information (10), map data, traffic information (11a) and weather information (11b), for the planned route. Changes in the calculated boundary are output to a human machine interface (13) arranged in the vehicle (2).