Drive Assist Apparatus Driver Concentration Stimulus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive assist systems face challenges in smoothly transitioning from autonomous driving to manual driving, especially when the driver's state is inappropriate, leading to difficulties in continuing safe driving.
Innovation Solution
A drive assist apparatus that calculates an arrival window time and estimates the driver's concentration degree, providing tailored stimuli to enhance the driver's state, ensuring a smooth transition by adjusting stimulus strength based on the driver's condition and time remaining before the switching completion point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle is automatically guided to an emergency shelter lane when the driver's concentration degree is low, then safety is improved, but driving continuity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by providing stimulation to the driver before the autonomous driving period ends, aiming to restore the driver's concentration degree to an appropriate level. This allows the driver to be ready for manual driving without needing to divert to an emergency shelter lane, thereby maintaining driving continuity while ensuring safety.
2Reliability
If the arrival window time is short and driver stimulation is provided, then driver concentration is improved, but time for mode switching is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the arrival window time and provides stimulation to the driver in advance, before the autonomous driving period fully ends. This preliminary action allows the driver's concentration to be restored during the remaining autonomous driving time, so that mode switching can occur smoothly without requiring additional time beyond the predetermined window.
3Reliability
If stronger stimulus is provided to restore driver state, then driving suitability is improved, but driver stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the strength of stimulation provided to the driver based on the calculated arrival window time and the driver's current concentration degree. When the arrival window time is sufficient, stronger stimulation can be applied to quickly restore driving suitability. When the arrival window time is short, weaker stimulation is applied to avoid excessive stress while still improving driving suitability within the available time.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive assist apparatus includes an arrival window time calculation unit configured to calculate an arrival window time before the vehicle arrives at a switching completion point, a driving concentration degree estimation unit configured to estimate a driving concentration degree of a driver based on a state of the driver when the arrival window time is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time, and a stimulation providing unit configured to provide a stimulus to the driver according to the driving concentration degree. In a case where the driving concentration degree is equal to or less than a threshold value set in advance, the stimulation providing unit provides a stimulus to the driver, which is stronger than that in a case where the driving concentration degree is greater than the threshold value, or provides a stronger stimulus to the driver in accordance with reduction in the driving concentration degree.