Driver Information Display for Curve Criticality Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern vehicles face challenges in providing drivers with timely and clear information about upcoming curves, especially regarding the criticality of manual intervention required for safe passage, as existing systems do not effectively communicate the necessary steering and speed adjustments needed to navigate curves safely.

Innovation Solution

A driver information system that detects the roadway ahead, determines the radius of curvature, and generates a graphical lane object display with highlighting features based on criticality, using movement data and road surface properties to inform drivers of the required actions for safe navigation through augmented reality displays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If driver assistance systems provide comprehensive information about vehicle control and safety functions, then the driver's understanding and use of support options is improved, but the complexity of the interface and information delivery system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation delivery to driverVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The information delivery is segmented into different levels of detail and types (visual, acoustic, haptic signals) that can be independently activated based on the specific driving situation and automation level, allowing comprehensive information to be presented without overwhelming the driver with all possible data simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interface dynamically adapts its complexity and information density based on the current driving situation, automation level, and driver needs, adjusting the amount and type of information presented in real-time to maintain optimal usability while providing necessary comprehensive information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the driver information display shows detailed graphical representations of the road course and criticality, then the driver's awareness of upcoming curves and required actions is improved, but the complexity of the display system and processing requirements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver awareness of driving situationVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The graphical lane object applies different visual properties (highlighting features, colors, intensities) to different segments of the road course representation based on their specific criticality levels, allowing the system to provide detailed information about critical areas while keeping less critical areas visually simpler

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses color and intensity variations in the graphical lane object to encode different levels of criticality and required driver actions, enabling rich information communication through visual properties rather than requiring complex additional display elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP3931025B1Method for operating a driver information system in an ego-vehicle and driver information system
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3931025B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3931025B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3931025B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a driver information system in an ego-vehicle, wherein a road course lying in front of the ego-vehicle in the direction of travel is detected and a radius of curvature of a curve of the road course is determined. Movement data of the ego-vehicle is detected and a criticality is determined based on the detected movement data and the determined radius of curvature. A driver information display is generated and output, wherein the driver information display comprises a graphic lane object which represents the detected road course. In addition, the graphic lane object (30) has a highlighting feature which is formed according to the determined criticality.