Vehicle Assist Control Based on Driver Recovery From Unsafe States
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle control systems do not consider the driver's state after performing driver assist, leading to potential new risks due to unsuitable driving conditions.
Innovation Solution
The system adjusts the amount of steering and brake assist based on the driver's ability to recover from unsuitable states like distracted or closed-eye conditions, using sensors and control algorithms to modify assist levels accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If driver assist is performed without considering the driver's state after assist, then the driver assist function can be implemented, but new risks arise due to unsuitable driving conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The control device continuously monitors the driver's state (eyes closed/open, distracted driving detection) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the steering assist amount. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the driver assist system adapts to the driver's actual condition, preventing new risks while maintaining reasonable system complexity through established monitoring technologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering assist amount is made dynamic rather than fixed, automatically adjusting based on the driver's state. When the driver is in an unsuitable state (eyes closed or distracted), the system increases steering assist to compensate for reduced driver control capability. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting system behavior to real-time conditions without requiring complete system redesign.
2Reliability
If the steering assist amount is increased to compensate for unsuitable driver states, then driving safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates when the driver recovers
Solution Approach 1:
The steering assist amount dynamically adjusts based on real-time driver state monitoring. When the driver transitions from an unsuitable state (eyes closed or distracted) to a suitable state, the system automatically reduces the steering assist amount, restoring normal steering responsiveness. This dynamic behavior ensures safety when needed while maintaining ease of operation when the driver is capable, resolving the contradiction between safety and operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the steering assist parameter (amount of assist) based on detected driver states. By monitoring physiological parameters (eye state) and operational parameters (distracted driving detection), the system adjusts the steering assist parameter to appropriate levels, ensuring both safety during impaired states and normal operability during recovered states.
3Reliability
If the system monitors driver state continuously to adjust assist levels, then safety is enhanced, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driver state monitoring operates periodically rather than continuously at maximum intensity. The system checks driver state at regular intervals appropriate for detecting transitions between suitable and unsuitable states, rather than maintaining constant maximum-level monitoring. This periodic operation maintains safety through adequate state detection while reducing energy consumption compared to continuous high-frequency monitoring.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control device (6) is configured to perform driver assist accompanied with running control of a vehicle (100) when a specific object in surroundings of the vehicle (100) is present in a driver assist area set in the surroundings of the vehicle (100) and change an amount of steering assist included in the running control in accordance with an ease of recovery from a state unsuitable for driving to a suitable state when a driver of the vehicle (100) is in an unsuitable state.