Collision Avoidance Sensitivity Based on Driver Awareness State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced driver assistance systems may fail to intervene promptly in collision avoidance scenarios due to driver alertness issues, as they rely on fixed confidence thresholds that do not account for varying driver awareness states, potentially leading to delayed reactions in situations where a distracted or drowsy driver cannot respond in time.
Innovation Solution
The system dynamically adjusts the confidence level threshold for collision avoidance based on driver awareness states monitored by driver-facing sensors, allowing for earlier intervention when a driver is deemed impaired, using multiple activation criteria tailored to different levels of driver alertness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed confidence threshold is used for collision avoidance, then the system maintains stable operation with fewer false alarms, but it fails to intervene promptly when the driver is distracted or drowsy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the confidence threshold based on real-time driver awareness state. When the driver is detected to be distracted or drowsy, the threshold is lowered to trigger earlier intervention. This transforms the static threshold into a dynamic parameter that adapts to changing driver conditions, resolving the contradiction between stable operation and timely response to impaired drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the confidence threshold parameter according to driver awareness levels. Multiple threshold levels are defined corresponding to different driver states (alert, distracted, drowsy). This parameter change approach allows the system to maintain high thresholds for normal operation (reducing false alarms) while automatically lowering thresholds when driver impairment is detected (enabling timely intervention).
2Reliability
If the confidence threshold is lowered to increase sensitivity, then the system can intervene earlier for impaired drivers, but it increases false-positive interventions for alert drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different confidence thresholds locally based on driver awareness state rather than using a single global threshold. Each driver state (alert, distracted, drowsy) has its own optimized threshold level. This local quality approach ensures that sensitivity increases are applied only where needed (when driver is impaired) while maintaining higher thresholds for alert drivers, thus reducing false positives.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver awareness detection system acts as an intermediary that mediates between the sensor inputs and the collision avoidance decision-making. It evaluates driver state and selects appropriate threshold levels, preventing direct false-positive triggers from sensor noise when the driver is alert, while enabling sensitive detection when the driver is impaired.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple activation criteria are implemented for different driver awareness states, then the system can tailor intervention sensitivity appropriately, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the driver awareness spectrum into distinct states (alert, distracted, drosy) with specific detection criteria for each state. This segmentation allows the system to apply appropriate threshold levels for each state without requiring a single overly complex decision rule. Each segment has its own simplified criteria and threshold, making the overall system manageable despite the multiple states.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for increasing sensitivity of a collision avoidance system of a vehicle based on driver awareness state. In one embodiment, a determination is made regarding whether or not the driver is alert based on an output of a sensor in the vehicle, such as a driver-facing camera or a sensor that detects a state of the vehicle. If the driver is found not to be alert, a lower confidence level threshold is used by a collision avoidance system of the vehicle (e.g., to more aggressively apply automatic braking). Other embodiments are provided.