Autonomous Vehicle Emergency Stop Control for Driver Incapacitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, especially at higher automation levels (Level 4 and Level 5), there is a need for an emergency response system that can recognize a driver's state and initiate rescue actions, such as stopping the vehicle and unlocking it, in situations where the driver may be incapacitated or unable to intervene, like losing consciousness.
Innovation Solution
A processor-implemented method and device that activate an emergency control mode based on the vehicle's travel trajectory and driver state monitoring, using sensors to determine if the driver is conscious, drowsy, or unconscious, and control the vehicle to stop on a shoulder, output an emergency light, and transmit a rescue request.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous driving control is implemented at Level 4 or Level 5, then driving automation is improved, but the ability to respond to emergency situations where the driver is incapacitated deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring driver state through sensors (camera, bio-sensors) and pre-preparing emergency responses. When the driver is still conscious, the system can alert them or prepare emergency protocols, ensuring that rescue actions can be immediately executed when incapacitation occurs, thus resolving the contradiction between high automation and emergency response reliability
2Reliability
If the system continuously monitors driver state and activates emergency control mode, then emergency response reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into multiple independent sensor modules (camera for facial expression monitoring, bio-sensors for physiological parameters, trajectory analysis modules). Each sensor handles a specific aspect of driver state detection, and the processor integrates these segmented data streams. This segmentation reduces individual component complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability for reliable emergency response
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the vehicle automatically stops and unlocks in emergency situations, then driver safety is improved, but loss of time for accurate situation assessment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment actions continuously during normal operation, maintaining an updated model of driver state. When emergency conditions are detected, the pre-assessed information is immediately available, eliminating the need for time-consuming situation assessment at the moment of emergency. This allows rapid automatic stopping and unlocking while ensuring safety through pre-conducted monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses continuous feedback from multiple sensors to dynamically assess driver state. The camera monitors facial expressions and eye movements, bio-sensors track heart rate and other physiological parameters, and trajectory analysis provides contextual driving behavior feedback. This multi-source feedback loop enables rapid and accurate situation assessment, allowing the system to confidently execute emergency stop and unlock actions without time loss
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for responding to an emergency situation are disclosed, where the method for responding to an emergency situation includes activating an emergency control mode based on a travel trajectory of a vehicle, stopping the vehicle on a shoulder based on the emergency control mode, outputting an emergency light of the vehicle, and determining whether the emergency control mode is active.