Driver-Specific Blind Spot Detection Using Head Movement Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driver assistance systems for motor vehicles are not adequately adaptable to individual drivers' physical characteristics, such as height and visual acuity, which can lead to inadequate blind spot detection and warning, particularly in an aging population with limited mobility.

Innovation Solution

A method to determine a driver-specific blind spot field by analyzing the movement behavior of the driver's head, including rotational movements, to adjust the extent and position of the blind spot field based on the driver's field of vision, using a combination of radar sensors and cameras to monitor the surrounding area and detect objects not visible to the driver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a preset blind spot field is used based on vehicle geometry, then the system is simple to implement, but it cannot adapt to individual driver's physical characteristics such as height and visual acuity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to driver's physical characteristicsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines the driver-specific blind spot field by analyzing head movement behavior recorded by the sensor system, without requiring manual input or configuration from the driver. The system serves itself by autonomously adapting to each driver's physical characteristics through automated field of vision analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The blind spot field parameters (extent and location) are dynamically adjusted based on the determined field of vision boundaries, which vary according to each driver's physical characteristics. The system changes the spatial parameters of the blind spot field to match individual driver capabilities rather than using fixed preset values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If the blind spot field is enlarged to cover more areas, then more regions are monitored, but the precision of blind spot detection decreases due to averaging effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblind spot field coverage areaVSAvoiddetection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system determines the blind spot field boundaries based on the specific field of vision characteristics of each individual driver, creating a customized monitoring area tailored to that driver's anatomical and visual properties. This localizes the solution to match individual driver anatomy rather than applying a uniform enlarged field to all drivers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If head movement data is recorded at multiple time points, then the reliability of field of vision determination improves, but the data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of field of vision determinationVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system records head movement behavior at multiple time points and uses this temporal data to determine the field of vision boundaries. By analyzing head movements across different moments, the system obtains more reliable information about the driver's actual field of vision, using feedback from repeated measurements to improve accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3227826B1Method for determining a driver-specific blind spot field for a driver assistance system, driver assistance system and motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 VALEO SCHALTER & SENSOREN GMBH
  • EP3227826B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3227826B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3227826B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a driver assistance system (2) for a motor vehicle (1), with which a driver-specific blind spot field (3) is determined in a surrounding region (4) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein at least a boundary edge (8, 9) of a driver-specific field of view (5) of a motor vehicle driver is determined according to a movement behaviour of a head of the motor vehicle driver and/or according to a visual capability of the motor vehicle driver, and, according to the determined boundary edge (8, 9) of the driver-specific field of vision (5), the extent (a2) and/or a local position of the driver-specific blind spot field (3) is determined in the surrounding region (4) of the motor vehicle (1).