Driver Gaze Time Control for Adaptive Eyes-Off-Road Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous driving systems lack the ability to dynamically adjust the time a driver can safely look away from the road based on various factors, compromising both safety and comfort during autonomous driving.
Innovation Solution
An eyes-off-road driving assistance system that incorporates a static and dynamic module to determine and adjust the allowed eyes-off-road time based on driver gaze location, direction, and environmental, traffic, vehicle, and driver factors, using a combination of sensors, driver monitors, and human-machine interfaces to optimize safety and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed predetermined time duration is allowed for driver eyes-off-road, then driver comfort and convenience are improved, but driving safety may be compromised when conditions require stricter monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic eyes-off-road time allowance system that adjusts the permitted duration based on real-time driving conditions. The system evaluates multiple factors including traffic density, road geometry, environmental conditions, and vehicle status to dynamically modify the base time allowance. This resolves the contradiction by making the time limit flexible rather than fixed, allowing longer durations when safe and shorter durations when risk increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of eyes-off-road time allowance based on varying driving conditions. By monitoring factors such as traffic flow, road curvature, weather conditions, and vehicle speed, the system adjusts the time parameter dynamically. This allows the same system to provide both comfort (longer times when appropriate) and safety (shorter times when necessary) by changing the time parameter in response to environmental inputs.
2Ease of operation
If the allowed eyes-off-road time is extended for comfort, then driver convenience is improved, but the safety margin is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the eyes-off-road time parameter based on real-time assessment of safety factors. When conditions are favorable (low traffic, straight roads, good weather), the system extends the time parameter to improve convenience. When conditions deteriorate (heavy traffic, curves, adverse weather), the system reduces the time parameter to maintain safety margins. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between comfort and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors driving conditions and provides feedback to adjust the eyes-off-road time allowance. Sensors detect changes in traffic, road, environment, and vehicle status, and this feedback loops back to the control system which modifies the time parameter accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that extended time allowances only occur when safety conditions permit, resolving the contradiction between convenience and safety margin.
3Reliability
If strict monitoring of eyes-off-road time is enforced for safety, then driving safety is improved, but driver experience and comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic monitoring that adapts its strictness based on driving conditions. Rather than enforcing a fixed strict limit, the system adjusts the monitoring threshold dynamically. When conditions are safe, the system allows more lenient monitoring (longer eyes-off-road times). When conditions require stricter safety, the system increases monitoring strictness. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between safety and driver experience.
4Device complexity
If a simple fixed time limit is used, then system complexity is reduced, but the system cannot adapt to varying driving conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the eyes-off-road time determination into multiple independent evaluation modules. Each module assesses a specific factor (traffic conditions, road geometry, environmental conditions, vehicle status) separately. This segmentation allows the system to maintain relative simplicity in each individual module while achieving complex adaptive behavior through the integration of multiple segments. The modular structure resolves the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a multi-functional evaluation framework where a single integrated system performs multiple assessment functions simultaneously. The same core architecture evaluates traffic conditions, road geometry, environmental factors, and vehicle status, and combines them to determine the eyes-off-road time allowance. This universal framework provides adaptability to various conditions without requiring separate specialized systems for each factor, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and condition-based adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An eyes-off-road driving assistance system for autonomous driving vehicle. The system includes a static eyes-off-road time module and a dynamic eyes-off-road factor process module. The static eyes-off-road time module determines an initial eyes-off-road time for the driver based on various static condition of the driver's eye gaze conditions detected by a driver monitor system. The dynamic eyes-off-road factor process module acquires and evaluates sundry dynamic eyes-off-road factors acquired from traffic, road, environment, vehicle and driver conditions and determines a time factor to further modify a static eyes-off-road time and to provide the final allowed eyes-off-road time for the driver during autonomous driving.