Driver Alertness Steering Idle Control in Assisted Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle driving support systems fail to effectively attract a driver's attention when alertness drops, despite reducing steering effectiveness, which can lead to unsafe driving conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle driving support apparatus equipped with a forward environment recognizing device, control device, electric power steering device, and driver monitoring system that detects a drop in driver alertness, transitions to an autonomous driving mode, and employs a steering handle idle mode with shaking to attract attention, while maintaining vehicle control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steering effectiveness is reduced to alert the driver, then driver attention is improved, but vehicle control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The steering control system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on driver alertness level. When the driver is alert, normal steering control is provided. When drowsiness is detected, the system transitions to idle mode where steering input is not transmitted to the wheels, and when distraction is detected, the system provides steering support to maintain control capability while alerting the driver through the alerting device.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering control device acts as an intermediary between the steering handle and the wheels. It can selectively block or transmit steering input based on the detected driver state, providing a controlled intervention that balances driver attention with vehicle control capability without completely disabling driver agency.
2Reliability
If autonomous driving control is activated when driver alertness drops, then safety is improved, but driver engagement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of autonomous driving control based on the type and severity of driver impairment. For drowsiness, it activates idle mode with full autonomous control. For distraction, it provides steering support while maintaining driver engagement. This dynamic adjustment ensures safety while preserving appropriate driver involvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of driver-vehicle interaction from full manual control to partial or full autonomous control based on detected driver state. This parameter change allows the system to maintain safety by adjusting the level of automation according to actual driving conditions and driver capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle driving support apparatus includes a forward environment recognizing device configured to recognize a traveling environment forward of a vehicle, a control device configured to perform adaptive cruise control and active lane keep centering control based on the recognized traveling environment, an electric power steering device configured to control a turning angle of wheels in a ganged manner in accordance with a steering angle received from a steering handle, and a driver monitoring system configured to detect changes in biological information of a driver who drives the vehicle. When the driver monitoring system detects a drop in alertness of the driver, the control device is configured to perform the adaptive cruise control and the active lane keep centering control and execute a steering handle idle mode that stops the electric power steering device from controlling the turning angle in the ganged manner in accordance with the steering angle.