Driver Capability Profiling for Autonomous Vehicle Control Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in navigating safely during adverse weather conditions or when human operators are not adequately prepared to take control, leading to potential safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for assessing driver capability in operating an autonomous vehicle by creating a driving capability profile based on human operator responses, environmental conditions, and operator parameters, allowing the vehicle to adjust requests for control accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control of the autonomous vehicle is returned to a human operator when the vehicle can no longer navigate autonomously, then the vehicle can continue operation under adverse conditions, but the human operator may be inattentive to road conditions and unprepared to make decisions and exercise motor control needed to safely operate the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of the human operator's alertness level and driving capability before transferring control. Sensors continuously monitor operator parameters (eye movement, head position, response time) and evaluate readiness in advance, ensuring the operator is prepared before control transition occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data about operator alertness is processed and used to dynamically adjust control transfer decisions. The system provides feedback to the operator through notifications and maintains monitoring throughout operation to ensure ongoing suitability.
2Reliability
If the vehicle conditions requests to increase or decrease driving responsibilities based on the driving capability profile, then the safety of vehicle operation is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into independent functional modules: sensor data acquisition, alertness level evaluation, driving capability profiling, and control request generation. Each module operates independently with defined interfaces, making the complex system manageable and maintainable while achieving comprehensive safety monitoring.
3Measurement precision
If an insurer conditions insurance premium cost based on the driving capability profile and operator parameters, then the insurance pricing becomes more accurate and fair, but the complexity of the assessment system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driving capability profile serves multiple functions: it guides control transfer decisions for vehicle safety, provides operational guidance to operators, and enables accurate insurance risk assessment. This multi-functional use of a single assessment system avoids duplicating infrastructure while meeting diverse needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of assessing driver capability for operating an autonomous vehicle includes identifying a human operator of the autonomous vehicle, the human operator being associated with a driving capability profile. The method further includes signaling to the human operator with the signal, the signal requesting a response from the human operator. The method also includes updating, based on the response from the human operator to the signal, the driving capability profile to indicate a level of skill of the human operator at responding to the signal.