Congestion Notification Control for Sleeping Automated Driving Occupants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated driving systems at Level 4 allow drivers to sleep, making it difficult for them to recognize congestion, which can lead to delayed arrival times and reduced convenience due to unawareness, and frequent notifications can cause annoyance.
Innovation Solution
An automated operation device that adjusts congestion notification modes based on the driver's sleep state and congestion severity, using sensors to detect sleep and provide tailored notifications through light, sound, and vibration to awaken the driver subtly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automated driving is performed at a level that allows the driver to sleep, then driver comfort is improved, but the driver's awareness of congestion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The notification device acts as an intermediary between the automated driving system and the sleeping driver. It detects congestion conditions through the acquisition unit and delivers this information to the driver through appropriate notification modes (visual, auditory, or haptic), thereby restoring driver awareness without requiring the driver to remain awake
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring congestion conditions and providing real-time notifications to the driver. The notification control unit adjusts the notification mode based on the driver's state and congestion severity, ensuring the driver receives relevant information about road conditions while maintaining the ability to sleep
2Loss of information
If frequent notifications are provided to inform the driver of congestion, then driver awareness is improved, but driver annoyance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system applies local quality by customizing notifications based on specific conditions: the type of notification (visual, auditory, haptic) is selected according to the driver's state (awake or sleeping) and the severity of congestion. This targeted approach ensures notifications are provided only when and how they are most useful, reducing unnecessary disturbances
Solution Approach 2:
The notification mode is dynamically adjusted based on real-time conditions. The notification control unit changes the notification type according to the driver's alertness level and congestion characteristics, transitioning between silent, subtle, and prominent notification modes as conditions change, thereby optimizing information delivery while minimizing annoyance
3Ease of operation
If the driver is not notified of congestion, then driver comfort is maintained, but arrival time reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes notification parameters (mode, intensity, frequency) based on congestion severity and driver state. When congestion is detected, the notification control unit adjusts these parameters to ensure the driver receives adequate information about delays, thereby maintaining reliable arrival time estimation while preserving driver comfort through appropriate notification selection
Data Source
AI summary
An automated operation device is configured to perform automated driving at an automation level that allows a driver-seat occupant, who is an occupant seated on a driver seat to sleep. A congestion information acquisition unit is configured to acquire information on congestion on a travel route of a subject vehicle. A congestion notification processing unit is configured to execute processing to cause a notification device to notify the driver-seat occupant of the information on the congestion. An occupant state acquisition unit is configured to acquire whether the driver-seat occupant is asleep based on an input signal from an occupant state sensor that is configured to sense a state of the driver-seat occupant. The congestion notification processing unit is configured to change a notification mode of the congestion based on whether the driver-seat occupant is asleep, while the automated driving is performed.