Haptic Vehicle Seat Actuator for Automated Driving Maneuver Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with partially automated driving functions, there is a need for rapid and reliable communication between the vehicle and driver regarding intended driving maneuvers, as drivers may not understand or agree with automated decisions, leading to potential misunderstandings and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that determine a planned driving maneuver based on surrounding area data, generate kinesthetic and/or haptic signals to inform the driver, and allow acceptance or rejection of the maneuver through specific operating actions, using actuators to create lateral and vertical dynamic effects on the vehicle seat to convey the intended action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated driving maneuvers are implemented without prior notification to the driver, then the productivity and responsiveness of the driving system are improved, but the driver's understanding and trust in the system deteriorate, leading to potential safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates haptic signals before executing the automated driving maneuver to notify the driver of the intended action. This preliminary notification allows the driver to understand the vehicle's intentions before the maneuver occurs, resolving the contradiction between rapid system response and driver comprehension.
2Loss of information
If the vehicle provides detailed information about planned maneuvers to the driver, then the driver's trust and understanding improve, but the time required to process and communicate this information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces visual or auditory information channels with haptic feedback through the seat. This substitution allows rapid transmission of maneuver information through tactile sensations that the driver perceives immediately, eliminating the time delay associated with processing auditory or visual information while maintaining complete information transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses different haptic patterns and intensities to encode different types of maneuver information, similar to how color changes convey different meanings. Different vibration patterns indicate different maneuver types (e.g., lane change vs. turn), allowing the driver to quickly distinguish between various intended actions without requiring verbose communication.
3Reliability
If the driver is given the opportunity to accept or reject automated maneuvers, then the driver's control and trust improve, but the complexity of the interaction system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors the driver's operational actions (steering input, brake application) to automatically determine acceptance or rejection of the maneuver. The driver implicitly communicates their decision through natural driving actions rather than explicit controls, simplifying the interaction system while maintaining reliable driver-vehicle cooperation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides haptic feedback that confirms the driver's acceptance or rejection decision. When the driver steers or brakes to reject a maneuver, the system detects this action and provides appropriate haptic confirmation, creating a closed feedback loop that enhances reliability without adding complex control interfaces.
4Device complexity
If the vehicle uses only visual displays to communicate maneuver intentions, then the system complexity is kept low, but the driver's attention must be diverted from the road
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces visual display mechanisms with haptic feedback through the seat. This substitution eliminates the need for visual attention while maintaining complete information communication about maneuver intentions. The driver receives tactile notifications that do not require eye movement or visual processing, keeping attention on the road while reducing system complexity compared to multi-modal display systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables intuitive and rapid cooperation between the driver and vehicle, improving the quality and comfort of partially automated driving by ensuring the driver is informed and involved in critical maneuvers, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and enhancing the robustness of automated driving functions.
Implementation Method 1
The step of generating the kinesthetic and/or haptic signal may comprise actuating an actuator of the vehicle in order to cause a lateral and/or vertical dynamic effect on the vehicle, in particular a short-term rolling movement and/or a pitching movement and/or a lifting or lowering movement of the passenger compartment of the vehicle and/or at least a part, in particular a segment, of the driving seat
Data Source
AI summary
A method converts an at least partially automated driving maneuver in a vehicle. The method consists of determining, on the basis of surrounding data relating to a surroundings of the vehicle, a planned at least partially automated driving maneuver. The method also consists of generating a kinesthetically and/or haptic signal in relation to the planned driving maneuver for a driver of the vehicle. The method further consists of converting the planned driving maneuver if a predetermined affirmative control action is carried out and/or when a predetermined rejected control action is lacking.