Driver Assistance Adaptation From Repeated Function Aborts

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Solution Overview

Problem

As vehicle assistance systems become more complex, they can lead to misunderstandings between drivers and vehicles due to automatic functionalities being set in individual driving situations, causing confusion and reducing trust in the system.

Innovation Solution

A method where the driver's aborts of automated functionalities are recorded and saved, with replacement by a new or modified functionality if the abort frequency exceeds a threshold, ensuring the system adapts to the driver's preferences and behavior, including emotional evaluations for quicker correction of misunderstandings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the assistance system performs functionalities automatically, then productivity and automation are improved, but misunderstandings between driver and vehicle increase, reducing trust

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated functionalityVSAvoiddriver trust
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system monitors driver responses (aborts, confirmations) to automated functionalities and uses this feedback to learn and adapt to driver preferences. The assistance system adjusts its behavior based on recorded driver reactions, replacing functionalities that are frequently aborted with modified versions that better match driver expectations, thereby maintaining automation while improving trust.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically learning from driver behavior patterns and modifying its own functionality settings. Through continuous monitoring of driver responses and analysis of abort frequencies, the assistance system autonomously adapts to individual driver preferences without requiring manual reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between high automation and driver trust.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the assistance system adapts functionality based on driver behavior, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to monitoring and learning mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctionality adaptationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves adaptability through self-learning mechanisms that automatically monitor driver responses and adjust functionality preferences without requiring complex external configuration systems. The assistance system autonomously builds and updates driver preference models based on observed behavior, providing high adaptability while managing complexity through automated self-adjustment rather than manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary monitoring and recording of driver responses to build preference models in advance. By continuously collecting and analyzing driver behavior data during normal operation, the system prepares adaptation information proactively, enabling smooth functionality adjustments without requiring complex real-time decision-making structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the system replaces aborted functionalities with modified versions, then driver satisfaction is improved, but loss of information occurs about original system intentions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver satisfactionVSAvoidoriginal functionality information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system discards functionalities that are frequently aborted by the driver and recovers them in modified forms that better match driver preferences. By identifying patterns in driver aborts and confirmations, the system selectively replaces problematic functionalities with adjusted versions while preserving the core useful functions, thereby improving driver satisfaction without completely losing the original system intentions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses driver responses as feedback to determine which functionalities to replace and how to modify them. By analyzing abort frequencies and confirmation patterns, the system intelligently adjusts functionality behavior while maintaining information about original intentions through structured learning from driver reactions, balancing adaptation with preservation of essential system functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4117951B1Method for adjusting a functionality of a vehicle carried out automatically by an assistance system, and driver-assistance system
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG
  • EP4117951B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4117951B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for adjusting a functionality of a vehicle carried out automatically by an assistance system. In a method in which in predefined driving situations misunderstandings between driver and vehicle are prevented, if the driver aborts the automatically carried out functionality, said abort is captured and stored, wherein the aborted functionality is replaced by a modified or new functionality if the abort frequency exceeds a predefined threshold value.