Steering Wheel Vibration Sensing for Early Driver Abnormality Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver state determination systems fail to accurately detect an abnormal state in a driver before the decline in involuntary movement function occurs, leaving little time for intervention.
Innovation Solution
A driver state determination apparatus that vibrates the steering wheel using an electric motor, measures the steering torque, and calculates a correlation coefficient between the time variation of the steering angle and the steering torque to determine an abnormal state based on muscle responsiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If driver state determination is based on operation input detection, then the system can identify when the driver becomes unable to perform operation, but it cannot detect the abnormal state during the decline phase of voluntary movement function
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of muscle responsiveness using vibration input before the driver completely loses operational ability. By detecting changes in muscle response to vibration during the decline phase of voluntary movement, the system identifies abnormal states early, enabling timely intervention before the driver becomes unable to operate the vehicle
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies mechanical vibration to the steering wheel and detects the driver's muscle response to this vibration. The vibration input stimulates muscle tissue, and the resulting acceleration signals reveal changes in muscle responsiveness that indicate declining physical function, allowing detection of abnormal states during the voluntary movement decline phase
2Reliability
If the system waits for the driver to become completely unable to perform operation before determining an abnormal state, then the determination is straightforward, but there is little time left for confirmation and appropriate action
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of muscle responsiveness using vibration input before the driver completely loses operational ability. By detecting changes in muscle response to vibration during the decline phase of voluntary movement, the system identifies abnormal states early, enabling timely intervention before the driver becomes unable to operate the vehicle
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
Enables early detection of a driver's declining physical function and accurate determination of an abnormal state before the driver becomes unable to operate, allowing for timely intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration apparatus that vibrates a steering wheel of a steering apparatus of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a vibration detector that detects the vibration of the steering wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A driver state determination apparatus detects decline of the physical function of a driver and confirms an abnormal state before the driver becomes unable to drive. A vibration apparatus vibrates a steering wheel; a vibration detector detects vibration of the steering wheel; a steering angle sensor detects a steering angle of the steering wheel; and a controller controls the vibration apparatus. The controller provides vibration at a predetermined excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus, calculates a steering torque level at the excitation frequency based on the vibration detected by the vibration detector, and determines that the driver is in an abnormal state when a correlation coefficient between a time variation of a steering torque level while the vibration is being provided and a time variation of a steering angle while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a predetermined value.