Driver Handover Timeline Display for Mixed Autonomy Routes

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of automatic driving into mixed road environments where sections require manual driving intervention or automatic driving is challenging, leading to potential vehicle stops and disruptions in social activities.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that acquires traveling route information and traffic information to display driver intervention requiring sections and automatic driving available sections on a reach prediction time axis, allowing for precise timing of driver intervention and reducing the burden on road infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automatic driving control is implemented in mixed road environments with both automatic driving sections and manual driving sections, then the capability to execute secondary tasks during automatic driving is improved, but the risk of vehicle stops and disruptions to social activities increases due to imprecise driver intervention timing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic driving capabilityVSAvoiddriver intervention timing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by notifying the driver in advance of upcoming manual driving sections and providing guidance information before the vehicle reaches intervention points. This allows the driver to prepare for transition from automatic to manual driving, improving timing precision and reducing abrupt stops that would disrupt traffic flow and social activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If continuous automatic driving is implemented throughout all road sections, then the productivity and reduction of driver load is improved, but the adaptability to mixed road environments requiring both automatic and manual driving sections deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecondary task execution capabilityVSAvoidadaptability to mixed road environments
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts to mixed road environments by automatically detecting section transitions and adjusting its control mode. It provides real-time information about upcoming manual driving sections and guides the driver through transitions, enabling the system to maintain high productivity in automatic sections while seamlessly adapting to manual driving requirements when encountered.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If driver intervention is required at every section transition point in mixed road environments, then the reliability of manual driving takeover is improved, but the complexity of the control system and information processing required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual driving takeover reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring vehicle position, detecting section transitions, and providing real-time information to the driver about upcoming manual driving sections. This feedback loop ensures reliable driver intervention at appropriate moments while automating the detection and notification processes, thereby managing control system complexity through intelligent automation rather than manual intervention at every transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3702732B1Information processing device and information processing method
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 SONY SEMICON SOLUTIONS CORP
  • EP3702732B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3702732B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3702732B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Section information of a traveling route is provided appropriately to a driver. Traveling route information and traffic information relating to the traveling route are acquired, and on the basis of the information, a driver intervention requiring section and an automatic driving available section of the traveling route are displayed on a reach prediction time axis from a current point on an instrument panel, a tablet, or the like. For example, the driver intervention requiring section includes a manual driving section, a takeover section from automatic driving to manual driving, and a cautious traveling section from the automatic driving.