Hands-Off Driving Control With Steering Hold Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving assistance systems that warn drivers of distraction or low wakefulness during automatic driving are insufficient in ensuring the driver's attention is fully focused on driving, as warnings alone may not be enough to prevent accidents in hands-off driving scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance apparatus that uses a processor to determine the driver's state through sensor information, issues warnings, and requests the driver to hold the steering wheel, with notifications adjusted based on the driver's response to maintain attention and ensure safe driving conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system issues warnings to alert the driver of distraction or low wakefulness, then the driver is notified of the unsafe state, but the driver's attention may still not be sufficiently engaged to prevent accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The system issues a request for the driver to hold the steering wheel before the hands-off driving is terminated. This preliminary action gives the driver advance notice and an opportunity to correct their posture or attention level before the automatic driving is cancelled, thereby preventing accidents while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors driver state through sensor information and provides feedback through warnings and requests. When the driver fails to respond appropriately to warnings, the system escalates by requesting steering wheel contact, creating a feedback loop that ensures driver engagement while maintaining safety
2Reliability
If the system requires the driver to hold the steering wheel during hands-off driving, then driver engagement is ensured, but the convenience of hands-off driving is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system requests the driver to hold the steering wheel in advance before terminating hands-off driving, rather than immediately requiring continuous contact. This allows the driver to maintain hands-off convenience during normal operation while ensuring engagement when safety concerns arise
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the required level of driver engagement based on real-time monitoring of driver state. When the driver is alert and attentive, hands-off driving continues without restriction. When distraction or low wakefulness is detected, the system escalates to warnings and then requests for steering wheel contact, creating a dynamic adaptation between convenience and safety
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a driving assistance apparatus (a control unit (100)) for a vehicle capable of hands-off driving that lets a driver take his or her hands off the steering wheel. The driving assistance apparatus includes a processor (10) configured to determine, on the basis of sensor information indicating a state of the driver, whether or not the driver is in a state unsuitable for the surrounding monitoring of the vehicle during the hands-off driving, warn the driver through a notification device when it is determined that the driver is in a state unsuitable for the surrounding monitoring, and notify the driver, through the notification device, of a request for holding the steering wheel.