Vehicle Driver Assist Control Based on Hazard Recognition State

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems provide uniform assist amounts and timings for driver assist, leading to driver discomfort if the object is recognized or discomforting collisions if not recognized, due to mismatched assist settings based on driver recognition.

Innovation Solution

A control device adjusts assist amounts, timings, and areas based on the driver's recognition state of an object, classifying recognition into three states: not yet recognized, already recognized, and visually confirming, to tailor assist settings accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the assist amount and assist timing of driver assist are made the same regardless of the driver's recognition state, then the system is simple to operate, but the driver may feel bothered if the object is recognized or collision may occur if not recognized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver assist operationVSAvoidcollision avoidance reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the driver assist parameters (assist amount and assist timing) dynamically adjustable based on the driver's recognition state. The system transitions from static uniform assistance to dynamic adaptive assistance, where parameters change according to whether the driver has recognized the object, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and collision avoidance reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying assist amount and assist timing based on the driver's recognition state. When the driver recognizes the object, the system adjusts parameters to reduce assist intensity; when unrecognized, it maintains higher assist levels, thus balancing driver comfort with safety effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the assist amount of driver assist is made larger and assist timing is made earlier, then collision avoidance reliability is improved, but the driver feels bothered when the object is already recognized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidance reliabilityVSAvoiddriver acceptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different assist levels based on the specific condition of driver recognition. Instead of uniform assistance, the system tailors the assist characteristics to the local situation - reducing assist when the driver is aware and maintaining it when unaware, thus improving both reliability and driver acceptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the driver's recognition state (detected via gaze direction or attention monitoring) to adjust assist parameters. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that assist amount and timing are optimized based on real-time driver awareness, preventing driver annoyance while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the assist amount of driver assist is made smaller and assist timing is delayed, then driver comfort is improved when object is recognized, but collision avoidance capability is reduced when object is not recognized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver comfortVSAvoidcollision avoidance capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts assist parameters based on the driver's recognition state, transitioning from static to adaptive control. This allows the system to provide minimal assist when comfortable (object recognized) and maximum assist when necessary (object not recognized), resolving the contradiction between driver comfort and collision avoidance capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes assist parameters (amount and timing) according to the driver's recognition state. When the driver recognizes the object, parameters are adjusted for comfort; when unrecognized, parameters are optimized for safety, thus eliminating the trade-off between comfort and capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4603351A1Control device for vehicle, control method for vehicle, and computer program
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4603351A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4603351A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4603351A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A control device (6) configured to perform driver assist accompanied with running control of a vehicle (100) when a specific object around the vehicle (100) is present in a driver assist area set around the vehicle (100), and change at least one of an assist amount of the driver assist, an assist timing of the driver assist, and the driver assist area based on a state of recognition by a driver of the vehicle (100) of a specific object.