Vehicle Control Authority Transition Using Driver State Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling control authority transition in autonomous vehicles fail to suitably determine when to transfer control from the autonomous system to the driver, potentially compromising safety due to uniform criteria that do not consider the driver's state or reliability of their input.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize sensors to determine the driver's state and reliability of their control input, calculating the probability of collision and verifying seat occupancy to decide whether to transfer control authority, with features like cameras for line of sight analysis and control circuits to manage transitions based on these factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If uniform criteria are used to prohibit control authority transition (e.g., fixed steering angle threshold), then the system is simple to implement, but it fails to adapt to different driving situations and driver states, compromising safety
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit dynamically adjusts the steering angle threshold based on vehicle speed, transitioning from a fixed threshold to a variable threshold that adapts to different driving conditions. At low speeds, a larger steering angle threshold is applied, while at high speeds, a smaller threshold is used, allowing the system to adapt to situational requirements without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of steering angle threshold from a constant value to a speed-dependent variable. The control circuit calculates the threshold as a function of vehicle speed, thereby adjusting the prohibition criteria according to the current driving state, which improves adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple implementation approach
2Reliability
If control authority transition is prohibited based on fixed thresholds, then the response is fast and deterministic, but it may prevent necessary transitions when the driver intends to take control safely
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit applies different steering angle thresholds to different vehicle speed ranges. Instead of using a single uniform threshold, the system implements local thresholds tailored to specific speed conditions, allowing the driver to take control more easily at low speeds where larger steering inputs are safer, while maintaining stricter thresholds at high speeds where control transitions should be more restricted
Solution Approach 2:
The threshold for control authority transition is made dynamic by linking it to vehicle speed. The control circuit continuously monitors speed and adjusts the threshold accordingly, enabling the system to respond appropriately to the current driving context rather than applying rigid fixed thresholds that may unnecessarily restrict driver control
3Ease of operation
If the steering angle threshold is increased to allow more driver input, then the driver has more freedom to take control, but the system may incorrectly prohibit transitions during normal autonomous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit changes the threshold parameter from a fixed value to a speed-dependent variable. By making the threshold a function of vehicle speed, the system achieves both goals: at low speeds, the threshold is larger allowing driver freedom, while at high speeds, the threshold is smaller maintaining accurate transition detection. This parameter transformation resolves the contradiction between freedom and accuracy
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for managing control authority transition in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a steering device, an acceleration device, a deceleration device, a sensor configured to sense information about a driver of the vehicle, and a control circuit electrically connected with the steering device, the acceleration device, the deceleration device, and the sensor. The control circuit is configured to obtain state information about the driver using the sensor when performing an autonomous control, to receive a control input by the driver to at least one of the steering device, the acceleration device, or the deceleration device, to determine whether to transfer a control authority based on the state information and a reliability of the control input, and to transfer the control authority to the driver when the control authority is determined to transfer.