Driver Seat Repositioning for Safe Autonomous Control Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

In autonomous driving systems, when control is transferred back to the driver, it is challenging for the driver to rapidly and safely assume control, especially if they are not in a suitable position to operate the vehicle manually, leading to potential accidents.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that include a controller which stores and adjusts the seat and steering wheel locations to ensure the driver can immediately and safely take control by determining if the current position is suitable for manual driving and adjusting it to a pre-defined or user-set position if necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the system transfers travel control right to the driver in autonomous driving state, then the driver can take control of the vehicle, but the driver may not be in a suitable position to operate the vehicle manually, leading to delayed response and potential accidents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver's ability to manually operate the vehicleVSAvoidsafety during control transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically adjusting the driver's seat and steering wheel to appropriate positions before or during the control transfer process. This ensures the driver is in a suitable operating position before taking control, eliminating the delay and safety risks associated with manual adjustment during emergency situations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service by automatically positioning the driver's seat and steering wheel without requiring manual intervention from the driver. The controller detects the control transfer request and autonomously adjusts the components to optimal positions, enabling the driver to immediately assume control in a safe and efficient manner

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the driver's seat location is not automatically adjusted when control right is transferred, then the system complexity is reduced, but the driver cannot rapidly receive control right in a suitable position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of control transferVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores reference position information for the driver's seat and steering wheel in advance. When control transfer is detected, the controller retrieves these pre-stored positions and automatically adjusts the components accordingly, enabling rapid control transfer without complex real-time calculations or manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensors detect the current positions of the driver's seat and steering wheel, and the controller compares these with the stored reference positions. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment to the correct positions, balancing productivity improvement with manageable system complexity through closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4005864B1Device and method for controlling travel of vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4005864B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4005864B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4005864B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device (100) for controlling travel of a vehicle, including: a storage (130) that stores at least one of a first seat location before an autonomous driving, a second seat location set by a driver, or a third seat location in a current state; and a controller (150) that controls a seat of the vehicle based on the seat location stored in the storage when a driving state of the vehicle is switched from an autonomous driving state to a manual driving state by transferring a control right of the vehicle to the driver. The device may allow the driver to immediately receive the control right when the control right of the vehicle is transferred to the driver, so that the transfer of the control right may be performed safely. The invention further relates to a corresponding control method.