In-Vehicle Message Notification Control by Driver Workload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle drivers face distractions due to internal and external inputs, and varying operating environments require dynamic adjustments in attentiveness, which existing technologies fail to effectively manage.
Innovation Solution
A driver communication control system that assesses driver workload based on vehicle, external, and in-cabin states, categorizes incoming messages, and determines notification actions to minimize distractions by controlling when messages are communicated to the driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the driver is notified of all incoming messages, then the driver receives complete information, but the driver's attention is distracted during vehicle operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the notification parameter (whether to notify) based on the driver workload parameter. When driver workload is high, notifications are blocked; when driver workload is low, notifications are permitted. This resolves the contradiction by making the information delivery conditional on the driver's current state rather than always delivering or never delivering messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system transitions from a static on/off state to a dynamic state that continuously adapts to changing driver workload conditions. The system monitors driver workload in real-time and adjusts notification behavior accordingly, allowing the system to optimize between information delivery and distraction prevention as conditions change.
2Reliability
If the driver workload is high, then driver safety is prioritized by blocking notifications, but the driver may miss important messages
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring driver workload and using this information to control notification delivery. The feedback loop ensures that when driver workload decreases, the system automatically permits notifications again, preventing permanent loss of important information while maintaining safety during high workload periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of driver workload before delivering notifications. By evaluating the driver's current state in advance, the system can determine the appropriate notification action, ensuring that important messages are delivered at safe moments rather than during critical driving tasks.
3Measurement precision
If the system monitors multiple vehicle states and environments, then the driver workload assessment is more accurate, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed as a multi-functional device that performs both vehicle state monitoring and notification control functions. By making the controller universal and capable of handling multiple tasks (monitoring vehicle state, monitoring external environment, monitoring in-cabin state, assessing driver workload, and controlling notifications), the system reduces overall complexity compared to having separate dedicated devices for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for controlling driver communication includes monitoring, via a plurality of on-vehicle subsystems, a vehicle state, an external environment state, and an in-cabin state via the plurality of on-vehicle subsystems; determining a driver workload score based upon the external environment state, the in-cabin state, and the vehicle state; receiving an incoming message; ranking the incoming message; determining a notification action for the incoming message based upon the driver workload score and the rank of the incoming message; and executing the notification action for the incoming message.