Driver Grip Request Control in Autonomous Driving Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous driving systems lack effective methods to ensure driver engagement and stability during transitions between monitoring necessary and unnecessary states, particularly in scenarios like traffic congestion, where the driver's hands-off state is permitted but monitoring is still required for safety.
Innovation Solution
A presentation control device and program that determine the switch between monitoring necessary and unnecessary states, permitting the driver to stop gripping the steering wheel only when it is safe to do so, and prompting the driver to re-engage through notifications and requests, ensuring stability and convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the system permits hands-off state during autonomous driving, then driver convenience and ease of operation is improved, but driver engagement and safety monitoring may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors driver state and provides feedback through notifications when monitoring is required, creating a closed-loop control system that balances hands-off convenience with safety engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the required driver engagement level based on real-time monitoring of driving conditions and driver state, transitioning between hands-off and hands-on requirements as needed
2Reliability
If the system requires continuous driver monitoring, then safety and reliability is improved, but driver convenience and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial monitoring requirements rather than continuous hands-on control, only requiring driver engagement when specific conditions are met, thus maintaining safety while preserving convenience during safe autonomous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic checks of driver state and environmental conditions, requiring monitoring only at specific intervals or under specific conditions rather than continuous driver attention
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system transitions between monitoring necessary and unnecessary states, then adaptability to different driving conditions is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the autonomous driving operation into distinct states (monitoring necessary and monitoring unnecessary), with clear transition criteria for each state, simplifying the control logic despite the adaptability requirements
Data Source
AI summary
An HCU, which controls information presentation to a driver of a vehicle with autonomous driving function, is configured to: determine a switch between a monitoring unnecessary state and a monitoring necessary state, the monitoring unnecessary state being a state in which stoppage of periphery monitoring by the driver during execution of the autonomous driving being permitted, the monitoring necessary state being a state in which the stoppage of the periphery monitoring by the driver during execution of the autonomous driving being prohibited; determine whether stoppage of steering wheel grip by the driver is permittable in the monitoring necessary state; and permit, when the monitoring unnecessary state is switched to the monitoring necessary state in which the stoppage of steering wheel grip is permittable, the stoppage of steering wheel grip in the monitoring necessary state after executing a grip request, which requests the driver to grip the steering wheel.