Driver Hand-State Monitoring for Autonomous Steering Takeover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving support systems fail to prevent delays in gripping the steering wheel when autonomous driving is engaged, potentially compromising safety due to prolonged hand occupation by occupants.
Innovation Solution
A driving support device equipped with an image acquisition unit, state detection unit, and notification unit that alerts occupants when their hands are blocked from gripping the steering wheel for an extended period during autonomous driving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the vehicle operates in autonomous driving mode without requiring steering wheel gripping, then automation level and ease of operation are improved, but safety risk increases due to potential delays in occupant response when manual intervention is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors occupant hand state through image acquisition and state detection units, providing real-time feedback about whether the occupant's hands are occupied. This feedback loop enables the notification unit to alert the occupant when hands are blocked for too long, ensuring timely response when manual steering is needed while maintaining autonomous driving operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of the occupant's hand state before a critical situation arises. By continuously monitoring and detecting when hands are blocked, the system prepares for potential manual intervention needs by notifying the occupant in advance, rather than waiting for an emergency to occur.
2Reliability
If the notification system alerts occupants frequently, then safety monitoring is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to potential distraction or annoyance
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of notification timing based on the duration of hand blocking. Instead of notifying immediately or continuously, the notification is triggered only when the hand-blocking state persists for a predetermined time threshold, optimizing the balance between safety monitoring and occupant convenience by avoiding unnecessary alerts.
Data Source
AI summary
The driving support device includes an image acquisition unit that acquires an image including an occupant riding on the vehicle, a state detection unit that detects a state of the occupant based on the image, and a notification unit that notifies the occupant when the detected state is a state in which the occupant holds the object in both hands for a predetermined time in a mode in which the vehicle does not need to grip the steering wheel of the vehicle and the vehicle is being automatically driven.