Autonomous Driving Confidence Display for Driver Reassurance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for preventing driver fatigue during autonomous driving lack the ability to inform drivers about the reliability and confidence of the autonomous driving system, failing to provide reassurance and reliability regarding permissible actions during autonomous control.

Innovation Solution

An information presenting apparatus comprising a system confidence level calculator, an information presenter, and an information presentation controller that determines and displays to the driver the allowability of actions other than driving based on the system confidence level, calculated from sensor detection rate, CPU load, and path fidelity, enabling the driver to understand the autonomous driving system's condition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the autonomous driving control is implemented without providing information on system confidence level, then the productivity and ease of operation are improved, but the reliability and driver reassurance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous driving operationVSAvoiddriver reassurance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors sensor detection rates, CPU load, and path fidelity to calculate a system confidence level, then provides feedback to the driver through the information presenter about the allowability of secondary activities. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains autonomous driving productivity while building driver reassurance through transparent system status communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The information presenter acts as an intermediary between the autonomous driving control system and the driver. It translates complex system parameters (sensor detection rate, CPU load, path fidelity) into understandable information about action allowability, bridging the gap between system operations and driver understanding without compromising either productivity or reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the driver is allowed to perform multiple secondary activities during autonomous driving, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety and reliability deteriorate when system confidence is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver secondary activitiesVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the allowability of secondary activities based on real-time system confidence level. When sensor detection rate, CPU load, and path fidelity indicate high confidence, more secondary activities are permitted. When these parameters deteriorate, the system automatically restricts secondary activities, maintaining safety while maximizing ease of operation under favorable conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses changes in key parameters (sensor detection rate, CPU load, path fidelity) to determine system confidence level, which directly controls the set of permissible secondary activities. This parameter-based control mechanism ensures that ease of operation is optimized when system performance is good, while reliability is protected when parameters indicate declining system confidence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the system restricts secondary activities to maintain safety, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation and driver satisfaction deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving safetyVSAvoiddriver secondary activities
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than imposing static restrictions on secondary activities, the system dynamically adapts the level of restriction based on real-time system confidence. This dynamic approach minimizes unnecessary restrictions when the system is performing well, thereby maintaining reliability while maximizing driver ease of operation and satisfaction during normal autonomous driving conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If the alarm is sounded only in normal mode without considering system confidence level, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and appropriateness of alarm timing deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm control systemVSAvoidalarm timing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm control system uses parameter changes in system confidence level (derived from sensor detection rate, CPU load, and path fidelity) to determine appropriate alarm timing. When system confidence drops below thresholds or secondary activities are restricted, the alarm is triggered to alert the driver. This parameter-driven approach enhances alarm timing precision without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3136366B1Information presentation device and information presentation method
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3136366B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3136366B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP3136366B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information presenting apparatus (100) includes a system confidence level calculator (13) configured to calculate a system confidence level of autonomous driving control, an information presenter (15) configured to present, to a driver, information on allowableness of an action other than driving, and an information presentation controller (14) configured to control switching of a content of the information presented on the information presenter according to the system confidence level calculated by the system confidence level calculator.