Cognitive Driver Assist with Variable Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle driver-assist systems often provide unnecessary warnings or take control unnecessarily, as they do not account for the operator's level of awareness of objects proximate to the vehicle, leading to potential annoyance or ineffective intervention.
Innovation Solution
A cognitive-driver-assist system that varies warning intensity and control override based on the operator's awareness, using object-detection and operator-detection devices to assess the operator's cognitive state and adjust assistance levels, from partial to full automation, to prevent collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system provides warnings or takes control to avoid collisions with proximate objects, then safety is improved, but unnecessary warnings and interventions occur when the operator is already aware of the object
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses operator-detection devices to continuously monitor the operator's awareness state and provides feedback to the controller. The controller adjusts warning intensity and control override authority based on this feedback, ensuring interventions occur only when necessary. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by making safety interventions context-aware rather than blanket responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts warning intensity and control override authority based on real-time assessment of operator awareness. When the operator is determined to be aware of proximate objects, warning intensity is reduced and control override authority is limited. When awareness is lacking, the system increases intervention strength. This dynamic adaptation eliminates unnecessary warnings while maintaining safety when needed.
2Reliability
If the system increases warning intensity to wake up a tired or distracted operator, then operator alertness is improved, but operator authority is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial control override authority rather than complete takeover. When operator awareness is determined to be insufficient, the system limits operator authority to the extent necessary to ensure safety, allowing the operator to retain some control while preventing dangerous actions. This partial action approach maintains operator alertness through controlled interventions without completely removing operator authority.
3Reliability
If the system limits operator authority to prevent interference with proximate objects, then collision avoidance is improved, but operator control is reduced when the operator is alert and aware
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts control override authority based on real-time assessment of operator awareness. When the operator is determined to be alert and aware of proximate objects, the system limits control override authority to minimal levels, preserving full operator control. When awareness is lacking, the system increases override authority to prevent collisions. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making control limitation conditional rather than constant.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cognitive-driver-assist system (10) includes an object-detection device (18), an operator-detection device (22), a control-override device (30), and a controller (20). The object-detection device (18) is operable to detect when an object (16) is proximate to a host-vehicle (14). The operator-detection device (22) is operable to determine when an operator (12) of the host-vehicle (14) is aware of the object (16). The control-override device (30) is operable to limit operator-authority (32) of the operator (12) while the operator (12) is driving the host-vehicle (14). The controller (20) is configured to operate the control-override device (30) in accordance with the operator-authority (32) to override the operator (12) and avoid interference with the object (16) when the operator (12) is not aware of the object (16).