Autonomous Handoff System Driver Competency Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in smoothly transitioning control back to drivers, particularly on high-speed roads, due to varying driver competency levels, leading to jerky or erratic vehicle movements.
Innovation Solution
A handoff system that assesses driver competency through training exercises and prompts during autonomous mode operation, approving or modifying the handoff based on competency thresholds, providing warnings and coaching to ensure safe transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle transfers control back to the driver during autonomous operation, then the autonomous vehicle can handle situations it is not equipped to handle, but the driver may have difficulty taking control quickly, leading to jerky or erratic vehicle movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by providing advance notice to the driver before control transfer occurs. The autonomous vehicle system notifies the driver in advance that control will be transferred, allowing the driver to prepare mentally and physically for the handoff, thereby reducing jerky movements and improving transfer smoothness.
2Speed
If the handoff occurs on a freeway, then the vehicle can maintain high-speed operation, but some drivers may have difficulty taking control of a fast-moving vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides advance notification to the driver before control transfer, allowing adequate preparation time even at high speeds. This preliminary action enables drivers to mentally prepare and physically position themselves for safe control takeover, making high-speed handoffs more manageable.
3Reliability
If the vehicle assesses driver competency through training exercises, then the handoff can be approved only when driver competency exceeds a threshold, but this requires additional training time and system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring driver responses to prompts and providing performance feedback. The autonomous vehicle system assesses driver competency by analyzing driver responses to various prompts during training exercises, using this feedback to determine whether the driver has achieved sufficient competency for control transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables drivers to self-assess and improve their competency through training exercises. Drivers can voluntarily engage with training prompts and exercises to enhance their skills, reducing the need for extensive external training programs while improving handoff safety.
4Reliability
If the vehicle provides training exercises and prompts during autonomous mode, then driver competency can be improved over time, but this increases the duration of autonomous operation required
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous competency development by providing training prompts and exercises throughout autonomous operation. Rather than requiring separate training sessions, the system continuously engages drivers with relevant prompts during normal autonomous operation, transforming idle training time into productive operational time.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor and storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include detecting a handoff request indicating a transition of a host vehicle from an autonomous mode of operation to a non-autonomous mode of operation and assessing driver competency. The handoff request is approved if the driver competency exceeds a predetermined threshold. Likewise, the handoff request is denied if the driver competency fails to exceed the predetermined threshold.