Vehicle Control Apparatus for Safe Automatic-to-Manual Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle control systems fail to appropriately switch from automatic to manual operation when the driver is not in a condition to handle manual control, potentially leading to unsafe situations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control apparatus that determines the driver's condition and sets a switch position before an evacuation space, allowing for automatic switching to manual operation only when the driver is capable, and issues notifications to prompt the driver to take control, with automatic evacuation if the driver's operation is inappropriate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the notification is issued before the vehicle reaches the scheduled point to prompt driver switching, then the driver is given advance warning, but the switch may occur when the driver is not in a condition to handle manual operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of driver condition before executing the switching operation. The determination unit evaluates whether the driver is in a manual operation acceptance condition (such as alertness, readiness) before allowing the switch from automatic to manual operation, ensuring the driver is capable of taking control safely
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary evaluation mechanism between the notification and the actual switching. The determination unit acts as an intermediary that verifies driver readiness, and only permits switching when the driver meets the required conditions, thus mediating between the automated system and manual takeover
2Reliability
If the switch position is set at the initial scheduled point, then the switching can occur as planned, but the vehicle may need to switch in an unsafe location without evacuation options
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of evacuation spaces before determining the final switch position. By pre-mapping available evacuation locations and assessing their safety characteristics, the system can select an appropriate switch position that ensures driver safety while maintaining operational feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the switch position based on evaluated parameters such as driver condition, road geometry, and availability of evacuation spaces. Rather than using a fixed scheduled point, the switch position is determined by multiple variables including distance to evacuation spaces and current driver readiness level
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary
A vehicle control apparatus that switches an operating condition of a vehicle to a manual operation when the vehicle reaches a preset initial switch position (P0) while an automatic operation is underway includes: a driver condition determination unit (24) configured to determine whether or not a driver is in a manual operation acceptance condition; an evacuation space identification unit (25) configured to identify an evacuation space provided on a path of the vehicle before the initial switch position (P0) on the basis of map information; and a switch position setting unit (27) configured to set a switch position (P1) in which the operating condition of the vehicle is to be switched from the automatic operation to the manual operation, in a position between the vehicle and the evacuation space when the driver is not in the manual operation acceptance condition.