Driver Readiness Estimation for Automated-to-Manual Driving Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic driving systems lack the ability to safely switch from automatic to manual driving mode, as they do not effectively assess the driver's level of consciousness, leading to potential accidents when the driver is not fully awake.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device and method that acquires driver and environmental information to calculate a safety index value, determining if the driver can safely switch to manual driving and estimating the available time for recovery, using sensors and learning processing to optimize the notice timing for safe mode switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver is allowed to perform activities during automatic driving (such as dozing, watching TV, reading), then the driver's freedom of action is improved, but the driver's degree of awakening deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of the driver's degree of awakening before allowing mode switching to occur. By monitoring physiological parameters and evaluating consciousness level in advance, the system ensures the driver is ready for manual driving before the transition begins, preventing accidents caused by drowsy driving.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the driver's physiological state (heart rate, brain waves, eye movements) and provides feedback about the driver's degree of awakening. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust the timing of mode switching notifications and ensure the driver remains alert when manual driving is required.
2Loss of time
If the notice timing for mode switching is delayed, then the driver has more time to recover, but the driver may start manual driving in a low state of consciousness
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of the driver's consciousness level and predicts the optimal notice timing for mode switching. By assessing the driver's current state and estimating recovery time in advance, the system determines the precise moment to notify the driver, ensuring sufficient recovery time while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the notice timing based on the driver's real-time physiological state. Rather than using fixed timing, the system modifies the notification schedule according to the driver's actual degree of awakening, optimizing both recovery time and safety margins.
3Reliability
If the notice timing for mode switching is advanced, then the driver's degree of awakening is maintained, but the driver may not have sufficient time to recover
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of both the driver's consciousness level and the time required for safe mode switching. By evaluating these factors in advance, the system calculates the optimal notice timing that provides sufficient recovery time while ensuring the driver remains alert enough for safe manual driving.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the timing parameter dynamically based on the driver's physiological state. By monitoring parameters such as heart rate, brain wave activity, and eye movement, the system adjusts the notice timing to optimize both recovery time and driver alertness.
Data Source
AI summary
A configuration is achieved in which driver information and environmental information are input and a safety index value indicating whether or not a driver who is performing automatic driving is in a state of being able to perform safe manual driving or a manual driving recovery available time is estimated. The configuration includes: a driver information acquisition unit that acquires driver information of a movement device such as an automobile; an environmental information acquisition unit that acquires environmental information of the movement device; and a safety determination unit that receives, as an input, the driver information and the environmental information, and learns and calculates a safety index value indicating whether or not a driver in the movement device during automatic driving is in a state of being able to perform safe manual driving. The safety determination unit further estimates a manual driving recovery available time including a time required until the driver in the movement device during the automatic driving becomes able to start the safe manual driving.