Driver State Determination Using Reaction Time and Line of Sight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver state determination systems are annoying for drivers during normal driving as they require additional, irrelevant operations for measuring reaction times, which can lead to inaccurate assessments of driving ability due to self-determination biases when the driver is looking forward.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle driver state determination apparatus that issues specific notifications for predetermined driving operations, such as responding to a preceding vehicle's start or pedestrian detection, measuring reaction times only when the driver's line of sight is not forward, and evaluating driving ability based on these operations to accurately determine fatigue or intent without unnecessary driver actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional button operations are required for measuring reaction time, then reaction time measurement is achieved, but driver annoyance increases and measurement accuracy deteriorates due to self-determination biases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the driver's own driving operations (accelerator depression, brake operation, steering wheel rotation) to measure reaction time, rather than requiring separate measurement actions. The driving assistance apparatus automatically detects these natural driving operations and uses them as the measurement basis, eliminating the need for additional button presses or dedicated measurement tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides driving assistance notifications while also using the driver's responses to these notifications as the basis for reaction time measurement. The same driving operations that respond to safety notifications are dual-purpose for both safety response and measurement, eliminating redundant actions.
2Reliability
If reaction time measurement is performed during normal driving, then continuous monitoring is achieved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates when driver is looking forward due to self-determination biases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different measurement criteria based on the driver's line of sight direction. When the driver is looking forward (within a certain angle range), the system excludes those measurements from evaluation to avoid self-determination biases. Only measurements taken when the driver's attention is naturally directed away from the forward path are used for fatigue assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of measuring reaction time when the driver is looking forward (which introduces bias), the system inverts the approach by measuring when the driver's line of sight is directed elsewhere. This inversion eliminates the self-determination bias while still providing continuous monitoring capability.
3Measurement precision
If specific notifications are issued for driving operations, then relevant reaction time measurement is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the driving assistance notification function with the reaction time measurement function. The same notification system that provides safety information to the driver also serves as the stimulus for measurement, and the same driving operations that respond to safety concerns are used as measurement responses, combining multiple functions into a unified system.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle driver state determination apparatus in a vehicle is provided as follows. A specific notification is issued from a driving assistance apparatus in response to an occurrence of a specific event; the specific notification urges the driver to perform a predetermined driving operation. A reaction time is measured from when the specific notification is issued to when the predetermined driving operation is performed by the driver, to evaluate a state relating to a driving ability of the driver.