Hands-On Warning Control for Driver Response in Automated Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers may ignore hands-on requests to hold the steering wheel during autonomous driving, as existing systems do not effectively ensure compliance once the warning condition is resolved.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that continuously alerts the driver via a notification system until the steering wheel is held, increasing warning intensity over time and potentially stopping the vehicle if the driver does not comply, even after the initial warning condition is no longer met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle control device withdraws the hands-on request and releases the hands-off warning when the warning condition is no longer satisfied after notification, then the system avoids unnecessary warnings, but the driver may learn to ignore the hands-on request
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by notifying the driver of the hands-on request before actually requiring the steering wheel to be held. The notification phase allows the driver to prepare and comply voluntarily, while the subsequent requirement phase ensures compliance if the condition persists. This two-stage approach prevents driver desensitization while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the warning behavior based on the driver's response. Initially, the system issues a hands-on request notification and allows withdrawal if the condition resolves. However, if the condition persists after notification, the system transitions to a mandatory requirement state where the warning continues until compliance is achieved. This dynamic adaptation prevents driver ignoring while avoiding unnecessary persistent warnings.
2Reliability
If the vehicle control device continues the warning until the driver holds the steering wheel even after the warning condition is no longer satisfied, then driver compliance is ensured, but the warning may persist unnecessarily increasing noise and distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The system issues a preliminary hands-on request notification that gives the driver advance warning and opportunity to comply voluntarily. Only if the condition persists after this preliminary notification does the system transition to continuous warning until compliance. This preliminary action phase reduces unnecessary persistent warnings while ensuring safety-critical compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The warning behavior dynamically transitions from a withdrawable request phase to a mandatory continuous warning phase based on whether the driver complies after initial notification. This dynamic adjustment ensures that persistent warnings occur only when necessary for safety, minimizing driver distraction while maintaining reliable attention monitoring.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the system notifies the driver of hands-on request and then releases the warning when condition is resolved, then false warnings are reduced, but driver compliance cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary notification of the hands-on request, giving the driver advance warning and opportunity to comply voluntarily. If the warning condition resolves during this preliminary phase, the warning is withdrawn without penalty. This approach reduces false warnings while maintaining driver compliance through the subsequent mandatory phase if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between a lenient notification-withdrawal mode and a strict compliance-enforcement mode. Initially, the system allows warning withdrawal if conditions improve, reducing false alarms. However, if the condition persists after notification, the system transitions to requiring compliance before warning cessation, ensuring driver safety without excessive false warnings.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device includes: a processor configured to: determine whether or not a situation around a vehicle or a situation of a driver of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined warning condition in a case where a driving control of the vehicle is executed without the driver holding a steering wheel, notify the driver of a hands-on request for holding the steering wheel and a warning that the driver does not hold the steering wheel via a notification device when the predetermined warning condition is satisfied, determine whether or not the driver holds the steering wheel in response to an in-vehicle sensor signal from an in-vehicle sensor that detects an action of the driver, and continue the warning until the driver holds the steering wheel even if the predetermined warning condition is no longer satisfied after the hands-on request is notified.