Driver-State Takeover Refusal Handling in Automated Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic driving systems face challenges in safely switching from automatic to manual driving modes, particularly when the driver's awakening level is low, increasing the risk of accidents and requiring emergency stopping or deceleration, which can lead to traffic congestion and rear-end collisions.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that includes a driver information acquisition unit, environmental information acquisition unit, and a takeover abandonment input unit, which assesses the driver's state and surrounding environment to optimize the timing for switching to manual driving and execute evacuation controls such as deceleration or stopping if the driver refuses to take over, allowing for early initiation of evacuation processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If emergency stop or deceleration is executed when driver takeover is required, then driving safety is improved, but rear-end collision risk and traffic congestion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The notification unit alerts the driver in advance before the vehicle reaches the manual driving required section, giving the driver time to prepare for takeover without requiring immediate emergency stopping. This preliminary notification allows the driver to gradually transition to manual control, reducing sudden deceleration events
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the notification timing based on the driver's awakening level detection. When the driver is detected to be in a low awakening state, the system provides earlier or more intensive notifications, allowing flexible adaptation of the takeover process to the driver's actual state, thereby avoiding forced emergency stops
2Ease of operation
If the driver is allowed to rest during automatic driving, then ease of operation is improved, but the driver's awakening level decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit continuously monitors the driver's awakening level during automatic driving and provides feedback to the notification unit. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect when the driver's alertness has dropped due to resting activities and adjust the takeover notification timing accordingly
Solution Approach 2:
When low awakening level is detected, the system issues preliminary notifications to the driver before reaching the manual driving section, providing sufficient time for the driver to regain full alertness through gradual engagement rather than sudden takeover requirements
3Productivity
If switching to manual driving is required at the last moment, then productivity is improved, but the driver cannot respond properly due to low awakening level
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary notifications well in advance of the manual driving required section, allowing the driver sufficient time to transition from resting state to active driving state without compromising automatic driving efficiency in suitable sections
Solution Approach 2:
The notification timing is dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of the driver's awakening level. The system flexibly extends the notification period when the driver is in a low awakening state, ensuring adequate response time while maintaining optimal automatic driving operation when conditions permit
Data Source
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AI summary
Evacuation control such as deceleration or stop of a vehicle is executed in response to an application from a driver of the vehicle for refusal of switching to manual driving. It is a moving apparatus that is switchable between automatic driving and manual driving and includes a driver information acquisition unit that acquires driver information of a driver of the moving apparatus, an environmental information acquisition unit that acquires surrounding information of the moving apparatus, a takeover abandonment input unit that inputs, to a system, takeover refusal information for a driver to refuse driving takeover to change automatic driving of the moving apparatus to manual driving, and a data processing unit that checks a switching point from automatic driving to manual driving on the basis of information acquired by the environmental information acquisition unit and executes a manual driving return request notification to the driver before reaching the switching point, in which the data processing unit further executes an evacuation process of a vehicle in response to a takeover abandonment input.