Vehicle Control Device Driver Readiness Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current self-driving vehicle systems face challenges in smoothly transitioning from self-driving mode to manual driving mode, as drivers often become complacent during extended self-driving periods, leading to decreased reaction speed and inappropriate driving postures, resulting in potential safety issues when quickly switching to manual control.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device with an output unit, input unit, and notification unit that assesses the driver's readiness through specific tasks and feedback, ensuring the driver is suitably prepared before switching to manual driving mode by adjusting the automation level based on the driver's responses and vehicle conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the automation level is reduced from self-driving mode to manual driving mode, then the driver can take control of the vehicle, but the driver's reaction speed and driving capability deteriorate due to complacency during extended self-driving periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by displaying operation requests and evaluating driver responses before the mode transition is completed. The driver must demonstrate readiness by correctly responding to displayed operations (acceleration, deceleration, steering) before the automation level is reduced, ensuring the driver is prepared for manual control
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by monitoring and evaluating the driver's operation inputs against the displayed requests. The evaluation result determines whether the mode transition proceeds, providing continuous feedback to ensure the driver maintains appropriate reaction speed and capability before taking control
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system quickly switches from self-driving mode to manual driving mode when automation level is reduced, then the vehicle can adapt to changing driving conditions, but the driver may not be physically or mentally prepared for immediate manual control
Solution Approach 1:
Before reducing the automation level, the system displays operation requests that require the driver to perform specific actions (acceleration, deceleration, steering). This preliminary evaluation ensures the driver is mentally and physically prepared before the vehicle adapts to manual control mode
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the transition process based on real-time evaluation of driver responses. The automation level reduction is not immediate but contingent upon the driver demonstrating readiness through correct operation responses, making the transition adaptive to the driver's current state
Data Source
AI summary
A driver performs switching to a manual driving mode in a state that the driver is suitable for a driving operation. In a vehicle that is driven by a plurality of driving modes including a self-driving mode to be performed by a self-driving control unit and a manual driving mode in which a driver performs a part of or all of a driving operation, before the manual driving mode is started, information for presenting a request for operating by the driver from a user interface unit to the driver is output to the user interface unit. The input unit receives a signal based on the operation by the driver. A notification unit notifies a self-driving control unit of a switching signal for instructing switching to the manual driving mode when a difference between a value obtained from the signal based on the operation by the driver, the signal having been input from the input unit and a reference value according to the operation request is within an allowable range.