Driver Activity Interruptibility Classification for Takeover Prompts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively manage driver distractions during transitions from automated to manual driving, as drivers often resume non-driving activities without proper consideration for their interruptibility, leading to potential safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that classify the interruptibility of non-driving activities using vehicle occupant monitoring sensors, determine the probability of driver distraction, and provide guidance for re-enabling these activities during manual driving to ensure safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If drivers are allowed to resume non-driving activities immediately after taking over manual driving, then driver comfort and continuity of task completion are improved, but driver distraction and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of non-driving activities into interruptible and non-interruptible categories before allowing resumption. This advance categorization ensures that only safe activities can be resumed immediately, while potentially distracting activities are delayed, thus preventing driver distraction while maintaining comfort for appropriate activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the rules for resuming non-driving activities based on the classified interruptibility level. For interruptible activities, immediate resumption is permitted; for non-interruptible activities, resumption is delayed until a safe moment. This dynamic adaptation balances driver comfort with driving safety in real-time.
2Reliability
If the system classifies and manages non-driving activities to improve safety, then driver distraction is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments non-driving activities into distinct categories (interruptible and non-interruptible) based on their potential to distract the driver. This segmentation allows the system to apply different resumption rules to different activity types, managing safety through classification rather than through complex real-time monitoring of each individual activity's distraction potential.
3Productivity
If drivers engage in non-driving activities during automated driving, then driver productivity and task completion are improved, but driver attention and focus deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by classifying non-driving activities according to their interruptibility before manual driving takeover. Activities classified as non-interruptible are identified in advance as potentially harmful to driver attention, and the system prepares to delay their resumption, thereby preventing the deterioration of driver attention that would occur if they were allowed to resume immediately.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for classifying a non-driving activity of a driver in respect of an interruptibility of the non-driving activity, in the event of a prompt to take over the driving task, wherein the method firstly comprises a read-in step, in which a detection signal (118) and a first position signal (120) are read-in from a vehicle occupant monitoring device (106) of a vehicle (104), the detection signal (118) representing a detected object used for a non-driving activity of the driver, and the first position signal (120) representing a first position of the detected object. The method then has a receiving step, in which a takeover prompt signal (124) is received, the takeover prompt signal (124) representing a prompt for the driver to take over the driving function. The invention also has a calculation step, in which a second position of the detected object is calculated by using a second position signal (126), the second position signal (126) representing a final position of the object before the driver takes over the driving function and interrupts the non-driving activity. Lastly, the method has a determination step, in which an interruptibility level (132) in respect of an interruptibility of the non-driving activity is determined, the interruptibility level (132) representing a degree of visual and/or cognitive distraction of the driver by the non-driving activity.