Driver Alertness Handover Control in Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles may struggle to navigate under adverse conditions or when human operators are inattentive, posing a safety risk due to the transfer of control from autonomous to manual operation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for determining a human operator's alertness level and tailoring notifications based on urgency and individual preferences to facilitate smooth transitions between autonomous and manual control, using sensors and a notification server to manage the transfer of control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control is transferred from autonomous to manual operation, then the vehicle can navigate under adverse conditions, but safety risk increases due to operator inattention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of operator alertness using sensors (cameras, microphones, biometric sensors) before transferring control. Notifications are presented in advance to alert the operator, allowing them to prepare for control engagement. This preliminary action ensures the operator is ready and capable of safe manual operation before the transition occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors operator alertness level through sensor data (eye tracking, heart rate, breathing rate, steering wheel interactions) and provides feedback about the operator's readiness state. This feedback loop allows the system to assess whether the operator is sufficiently alert to assume control, reducing safety risks associated with inattention.
2Reliability
If notifications are made more intrusive to alert inattentive operators, then operator awareness improves, but operator comfort and acceptance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system adapts its intrusiveness to the specific situation and operator state. Different notification types (visual, auditory, haptic) are selected based on the operator's alertness level and the urgency of the situation. This localized adaptation ensures notifications are sufficiently intrusive to gain awareness when needed, while maintaining operator comfort during normal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system dynamically adjusts its characteristics based on real-time assessment of operator alertness. As the operator becomes more attentive, notifications become less intrusive. The system evolves from highly intrusive notifications for inattentive operators to gentler reminders as awareness improves, balancing effectiveness with operator comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicles may have the capability to navigate according to various levels of autonomous capabilities, the vehicle having a different set of autonomous competencies at each level. In certain situations, the vehicle may shift from one level of autonomous capability to another. The shift may require more or less driving responsibility from a human operator. Sensors inside the vehicle collect human operator parameters to determine an alertness level of the human operator. An alertness level is determined based on the human operator parameters and other data including historical data or human operator-specific data. Notifications are presented to the user based on the determined alertness level that are more or less intrusive based on the alertness level of the human operator and on the urgency of an impending change to autonomous capabilities. Notifications may be tailored to specific human operators based on human operator preference and historical performance.