Steering Wheel Sensor Zone Contact Detection for Driver State Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of electronic distractions for drivers in vehicles poses a challenge in maintaining safe driving practices, as these distractions can lead to drivers taking their hands off the steering wheel, necessitating a system to balance safe driving with the use of in-vehicle systems.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system utilizing a steering wheel with sensors to detect contact in designated zones, determining a driver state index based on these contacts, and modifying the control of vehicle systems accordingly to ensure safe driving practices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If drivers use in-vehicle electronic systems and portable devices, then convenience and functionality are improved, but driver distraction and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors driver hand contact on the steering wheel using sensors and provides real-time feedback by enabling or disabling vehicle system functions based on whether the driver's hands are properly positioned, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the availability of vehicle functions based on real-time driver behavior detection, transitioning between enabled and disabled states according to hand contact patterns rather than maintaining a fixed configuration
2Reliability
If the system disables vehicle functions to prevent distraction, then driving safety is improved, but ease of operation and driver convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically re-enables functions after detecting proper hand contact, allowing drivers to access vehicle systems in periodic intervals rather than completely blocking access, balancing safety with operational needs
3Measurement precision
If sensors continuously monitor steering wheel contact, then driver distraction detection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel is segmented into multiple sensor zones that independently detect hand contact, allowing the system to determine overall contact status by aggregating simple binary signals from each zone rather than using a single complex sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling vehicle systems in a vehicle includes providing a steering wheel having a plurality of sensors configured to sense contact on the steering wheel. The steering wheel has a left zone and a right zone. The method includes determining a left contact value based on one or more signals received from at least one of the plurality of sensors. The left contact value indicates contact with the steering wheel within the left zone. The method includes determining a right contact value based on the one or more signals received from the at least one of the plurality of sensors. The right contact value indicates contact with the steering wheel within the right zone. The method includes determining a driver state index based on the left contact value and the right contact value and modifying control of the vehicle systems based on the driver state index.