Driver Distraction Vehicle Control With Staged Speed Intervention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems start deceleration control when a driver is in a distracted state, which can lead to a sudden reduction in inter-vehicle distance and cause the vehicle to accelerate when the driver returns to a normal state, resulting in an uneasy driving experience.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control apparatus that performs an acceleration suppressing control when a driver is in a distracted state for a predetermined time, followed by a deceleration control when the distracted state continues for a longer predetermined time, thereby preventing sudden changes in vehicle speed and inter-vehicle distance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If deceleration control is started when the driver is in a distracted state, then the possibility of the driver feeling uneasy when returning to normal state is reduced, but the inter-vehicle distance suddenly becomes shorter and following vehicles are at risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver safetyVSAvoidinter-vehicle distance reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the distracted state and issues warnings before initiating deceleration control. By detecting the distracted state earlier and providing gradual warnings (first warning, second warning, then deceleration control), the system prepares the driver and surrounding environment for the upcoming control action, reducing sudden inter-vehicle distance reduction while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If deceleration control is started when the driver is in a distracted state, then the vehicle acceleration when driver returns to normal state is prevented, but the driver feels uneasy due to sudden deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle speed controlVSAvoiddriver comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides gradual warnings (first warning notification, second warning notification) before initiating deceleration control. This cushioning approach prepares the driver mentally for the upcoming deceleration, reducing the shock and unease caused by sudden deceleration while still preventing unwanted vehicle acceleration when the driver returns to normal state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Measurement precision

If the distracted state detection is continuous, then the driver state is accurately monitored, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver state detection accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system segments the distracted state management into distinct stages: detection stage (monitoring driver state), warning stage (issuing first and second warnings), and control stage (initiating deceleration control). Each stage has specific determination criteria and actions, simplifying the overall system complexity while maintaining accurate driver state monitoring through the driver state determination unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12263845B2Vehicle control apparatus, vehicle, acceleration-and-deceleration control method, and vehicle control program

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A vehicle control apparatus performs an acceleration suppressing control to suppress an acceleration of a vehicle, when a distracted state detected based on a driver's seat image continues for a predetermined first time. The distracted state is a state in which an attentiveness for driving of the driver is impaired. The vehicle control apparatus performs a deceleration control to decelerate the vehicle to stop the vehicle, when the distracted state continues for a predetermined second time that is longer than the first time.