Driving Support Control Adjusting for Driver Concentration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional driving support techniques do not adapt to the driver's intention and concentration level, leading to inadequate support that may not align with the driver's needs for safe driving.

Innovation Solution

A driving support apparatus with a determination unit that assesses the driver's concentration level and adjusts the support resources to ensure sufficient resources for safe driving, allowing for tailored support controls such as collision damage reduction brake control, lane running control, and adaptive cruise control based on the driver's state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional driving support techniques uniformly determine driver state as good or bad, then the system can simplify control decisions, but the support control does not align with the driver's actual intention and concentration level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of control decisionVSAvoidalignment with driver's intention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from a binary driver state determination (good/bad) to a multi-level concentration degree assessment. The system evaluates driver concentration on a continuous scale and adjusts driving support control accordingly, allowing the support intensity to vary based on the driver's actual state. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple automated determination while achieving adaptability to the driver's intention through graded parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If driving support control is uniformly applied regardless of driver concentration level, then the system can ensure consistent safety support, but the driver may excessively rely on the support system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsistency of safety supportVSAvoiddriver's reliance on support system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the driving support control adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts the level of support based on real-time assessment of driver concentration. When concentration is high, support is minimized to maintain driver engagement; when concentration decreases, support is progressively increased to ensure safety. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by ensuring consistent safety outcomes while preventing excessive driver reliance through context-appropriate support levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If driving support technique follows driver intention generally, then the system can maintain driver autonomy, but it cannot provide adequate support when driver concentration is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver autonomyVSAvoidadequacy of safety support
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring driver concentration levels and using this information to adjust driving support control in real-time. The system establishes a feedback loop where driver state assessment informs support intensity, ensuring that autonomy is maintained when the driver is concentrated while providing adequate support when concentration drops. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to respond adaptively to driver needs rather than following a fixed control strategy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3249628B1Driving assistance device, method and program
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 AISIN SEIKI KK
  • EP3249628B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3249628B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3249628B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A determination unit of a driving support apparatus according to an embodiment determines driving support control having a driving support resource amount that can assure required resources that are assumed to be required for safe driving with respect to a resource amount that can be assured by a level of a vehicle driver's concentration on driving. A driving support unit that changes the driving support control to be performed to driving support control that is determined by the determination unit to be capable of assuring the required resources. The driving support apparatus thus can assure safety while performing the driving support control as necessary in accordance with, for example, the level of the driver's concentration on driving.