Movable Camera Driver Activeness Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current driver monitoring systems in autonomous vehicles face challenges in accurately determining the activeness of drivers, particularly when a single camera is used, as it struggles to differentiate between drowsiness and engagement, leading to potential unnecessary notifications and increased complexity with multiple cameras.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a single camera with a moving module and processor to adjust the camera's position and angle, detecting the driver's gaze and reaction to determine activeness levels, including setting the driver's state to high, normal, or low based on gaze direction and reaction to camera movement, and using a display to indicate activeness through color and brightness changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single camera is used to monitor the driver, then the system complexity and cost are reduced, but the accuracy in discerning driver states (drowsiness vs. phone usage) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable camera that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation to track the driver's face and gaze direction. The camera moves along a rail system and rotates to maintain optimal viewing angles, transforming a static single-camera system into a dynamic one that compensates for limited viewing angles through active positioning rather than using multiple fixed cameras
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temporal dimension by sequentially capturing images from different camera positions and angles. Instead of using multiple cameras simultaneously, the system moves the single camera to different positions over time to gather comprehensive visual information, effectively adding a time-based dimension to the spatial observation
2Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are installed to improve driver state detection accuracy, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single movable camera performs multiple functions that would traditionally require separate cameras: monitoring driver presence, detecting gaze direction, determining head position, and assessing overall driver state. This multi-functional camera reduces the number of devices needed while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of multiple fixed cameras into a single movable camera system. By merging the observational capabilities into one dynamic unit, the system eliminates the need for multiple camera devices and their associated wiring, reducing overall system complexity
3Productivity
If the driver is stimulated with strong notification methods to increase activeness, then the driver responsiveness improves, but the risk of surprising the driver and creating tolerance to stimulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic camera movement and intermittent notification rather than continuous strong stimulation. The camera moves at intervals to check driver state, and notifications are triggered only when activeness drops below thresholds, creating a rhythmic pattern that maintains driver awareness without causing tolerance or surprise
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors driver activeness through camera-based gaze and head position detection, providing real-time feedback about driver state. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts notification intensity and frequency, using subtle cues for minor attention lapses and stronger notifications only when necessary, creating a responsive feedback loop that adapts to driver needs
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a system for detecting activeness of a driver, the system including a camera configured to photograph the driver, a camera moving module configured to move the camera, and a camera operation processor configured to detect the activeness of the driver by processing an image captured by the camera and control the camera to move using the camera moving module according to the detected activeness of the driver.