Driver Fatigue Monitoring With HRV-Based Vehicle Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies inadequately utilize driver fatigue analysis for vehicle control, despite advancements in biometric signal measurement, leading to increased traffic accidents due to driver fatigue.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that utilize biometric information, specifically heart rate variability analysis, to learn and monitor a driver's fatigue level, outputting control signals to adjust vehicle settings such as warning alarms, vehicle-to-vehicle distance, and activation of safety systems like lane departure warning and smart cruise control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If biometric sensors are used to measure driver fatigue, then driver fatigue detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver fatigue detection capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides fatigue detection into two phases: a learning phase to establish baseline biometric values and a monitoring phase to detect deviations. This segmentation allows the system to use simple biometric sensors while achieving accurate fatigue detection through phased processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary learning of driver biometric values during a learning period before actual fatigue monitoring begins. This preliminary action establishes reference values that enable subsequent fatigue detection without requiring complex real-time analysis algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If active vehicle control based on fatigue monitoring is implemented, then traffic accident prevention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic accident preventionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback control where fatigue monitoring results directly trigger vehicle control actions. When fatigue is detected through biometric deviations, the system automatically adjusts vehicle operations such as activating warning devices or adjusting driving parameters, creating a closed-loop safety system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle system automatically monitors driver fatigue and self-regulates by activating safety controls without requiring external intervention. The system serves itself by using its own biometric sensing and control capabilities to prevent accidents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If continuous biometric monitoring is performed during driving, then real-time fatigue detection is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time fatigue detectionVSAvoiduse of energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs biometric monitoring at periodic intervals rather than continuously, comparing current readings against baseline values established during the learning phase. This periodic measurement approach maintains real-time detection capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3387995B1Apparatus and method for controlling vehicle based on degree of fatigue
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3387995B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3387995B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3387995B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for controlling a vehicle based on a degree of fatigue of a driver. The apparatus includes: a fatigue degree learning device configured to learn a degree of initial fatigue of the driver based on biometric information of the driver received from a sensor; a fatigue degree monitoring device configured to, when learning the degree of initial fatigue of the driver is completed and driving of a vehicle is started, monitor the degree of fatigue of the driver by receiving the biometric information of the driver from the sensor, and output a control signal corresponding to the degree of fatigue of the driver, and a driving controller configured to control the driving of the vehicle based on the control signal.