Vehicle Control Device for Backward-Facing Occupant Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous driving vehicles, drivers seated facing backward may not immediately recognize or respond to handover notifications from the vehicle, as existing switching methods assume a forward-facing driver, leading to potential safety issues during mode transitions or external communication requests.
Innovation Solution
A drive assist method that detects the occupant's position and state, determines the most easily operable input device, and validates consent operations through notifications on the most accessible touch panel display or physical button, ensuring quick responses regardless of seat layout or direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the driver is seated facing backward in an autonomous driving vehicle, then the seat layout flexibility is improved, but the driver's ability to recognize and respond to handover notifications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system dynamically adapts to the driver's seating position and orientation. The control device determines the driver's location and directional information, then selectively notifies the driver through multiple output devices positioned at different locations within the vehicle interior, ensuring effective notification regardless of whether the driver is seated forward-facing or backward-facing
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system is segmented into multiple independent output devices distributed throughout the vehicle interior. Instead of relying on a single notification method, the system divides the notification function across multiple devices, allowing the driver to receive notifications from the most accessible direction based on their seating position
2Device complexity
If a single notification method is used for all seating positions, then the system complexity is reduced, but the notification effectiveness for backward-facing drivers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple output devices throughout the vehicle interior are equipped with the same notification functionality. Each device can independently convey handover notifications, allowing the system to maintain uniform notification content while adapting to different driver positions and orientations
3Measurement precision
If the driver must operate a specific input device for mode switching, then the control precision is improved, but the response time deteriorates when the driver is in an non-standard position
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds the spatial dimension to mode switching input. In addition to traditional input devices, touch-sensitive surfaces are provided at multiple locations throughout the vehicle interior, allowing the driver to initiate mode switching from their current seating position without requiring physical movement to a specific control location
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device includes: detecting at least one of a position or a state of occupant in a vehicle; determining an operation inputting part that is most easily operable for the occupant from among a plurality of operation inputting parts in the vehicle based on the at least one of the position or the state of the occupant which is detected in the detecting; notifying a consent request in the vehicle with respect to a processing content scheduled to be performed in response to an occurrence of an event; and validating consent operation to the operation inputting part that is most easily operable.