Driver Capability Assessment for Autonomous Vehicle Takeover Readiness

Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles face challenges in navigating extreme conditions or when human operators are not adequately prepared to take control, leading to potential safety risks due to varying levels of driver capability and alertness.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for assessing driver capability by creating a driving capability profile, which combines human operator parameters and environmental data to adjust vehicle autonomy levels and notify operators appropriately, ensuring safer transitions between autonomous and manual control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the vehicle operates autonomously without human intervention, then navigation capability is improved, but safety deteriorates when extreme conditions or sensor failures occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous navigation capabilityVSAvoidsafety under extreme conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment of driver capability and alertness before transferring control from autonomous to manual mode. The driver monitoring system continuously evaluates driver state in advance, ensuring the driver is ready to take control before critical situations arise, thus preventing safety failures during mode transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback through driver monitoring (eye tracking, alertness detection) and environmental assessment. This feedback loop allows the vehicle to dynamically adjust autonomous operation levels and ensure driver readiness, improving reliability by preventing unsafe autonomous-to-manual transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If control is returned to human operator when autonomous navigation fails, then adaptability is improved, but safety deteriorates due to driver inattention and unpreparedness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol transfer capabilityVSAvoiddriver readiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment of driver capability and alertness before transferring control from autonomous to manual mode. The driver monitoring system continuously evaluates driver state in advance, ensuring the driver is ready to take control before critical situations arise, thus preventing safety failures during mode transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback through driver monitoring (eye tracking, alertness detection) and environmental assessment. This feedback loop allows the vehicle to dynamically adjust autonomous operation levels and ensure driver readiness, improving reliability by preventing unsafe autonomous-to-manual transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the vehicle monitors driver capability continuously, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver assessment accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multi-functional sensors that serve both autonomous navigation and driver monitoring purposes. For example, cameras and sensors used for environmental perception also detect driver eye movements and alertness states, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The driver monitoring system leverages the driver's own biological signals (eye movements, physiological responses) to assess their state without requiring external testing equipment. The system self-evaluates driver capability through passive observation of natural driver behavior during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11787417B2Assessing driver ability to operate an autonomous vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 STATE FARM MUTAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY

AI summary

A computer-implemented method of assessing driver capability for operating an autonomous vehicle includes identifying a human operator of the autonomous vehicle, the human operator being associated with a driving capability profile. The method further includes signaling to the human operator with the signal, the signal requesting a response from the human operator. The method also includes updating, based on the response from the human operator to the signal, the driving capability profile to indicate a level of skill of the human operator at responding to the signal.