Vehicle Control Apparatus for Passenger-Initiated Emergency Stop

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems that alert drivers to abnormal conditions, such as loss of consciousness, can cause unnecessary anxiety for passengers by maintaining alarms during predetermined periods before initiating vehicle stop controls, potentially leading to uncomfortable situations.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control apparatus with an abnormality detection unit, notification control unit, and automatic stop control unit that initiates first vehicle stop control if no cancel operation is detected within a predetermined time and allows for immediate second vehicle stop control upon passenger request, reducing passenger anxiety by stopping the vehicle earlier and adjusting alarm volumes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vehicle control system maintains alarm notification for a predetermined period before initiating vehicle stop control, then the driver has time to recover from abnormal conditions, but passenger anxiety increases due to prolonged alarm sound

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver safetyVSAvoidpassenger anxiety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary notification to the driver before initiating vehicle stop control, giving the driver time to recover from abnormal conditions like drowsiness or loss of consciousness. The alarm is activated in advance, and the vehicle stop is delayed until the predetermined period elapses without driver response, ensuring the driver gets a chance to recover while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of immediately stopping the vehicle upon detecting driver abnormality, the system inverts the conventional approach by first issuing an alarm and waiting for a predetermined period. The vehicle stop control is initiated only if the driver does not respond within this period. This inversion prioritizes driver recovery opportunities while ultimately ensuring safety through delayed stop control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the vehicle stops after a predetermined period following driver abnormality detection, then the driver may have time to recover, but the response time to prevent potential accidents is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver recovery opportunityVSAvoidvehicle stop response time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system activates alarm notification as a preliminary action immediately upon detecting driver abnormality, before initiating vehicle stop control. This preliminary alarm gives the driver a head start to recover consciousness or alertness, while the predetermined period timer simultaneously runs to determine when stop control should be initiated if no recovery occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the vehicle stop timing based on driver response within the predetermined period. If the driver shows signs of recovery or responds to the alarm, the vehicle stop control is cancelled or delayed. If no response occurs, the stop control is automatically initiated after the period elapses, making the response time adaptive rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the system immediately stops the vehicle upon detecting driver abnormality, then accident prevention is maximized, but the driver loses the opportunity to recover from the abnormal condition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccident prevention efficiencyVSAvoiddriver recovery possibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system issues alarm notification as a preliminary action before implementing vehicle stop control. This preliminary alarm provides the driver with an opportunity to recover from abnormal conditions such as drowsiness or temporary loss of consciousness. Only if the driver fails to respond within the predetermined period does the system proceed to stop the vehicle, balancing accident prevention with driver recovery opportunities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of immediately taking the extreme action of stopping the vehicle, the system applies a partial action by first issuing an alarm notification. This intermediate step gives the driver a chance to recover without immediately halting the vehicle. The full stop control action is reserved for cases where the driver fails to respond, representing a graduated approach rather than immediate excessive action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11541896B2Vehicle control apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 SUBARU CORP

AI summary

A vehicle control apparatus to be applied to a vehicle includes an abnormality detection unit, a notification control unit, and an automatic stop control unit. The abnormality detection unit detects an abnormal condition of a driver who drives the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling. The notification control unit performs notification control to make a notification of the abnormal condition detected by the abnormality detection unit. The automatic stop control unit starts first vehicle stop control of the vehicle when detecting no operation to cancel the notification control within a predetermined period of time after the notification control unit starts the notification control. The automatic stop control unit starts second vehicle stop control of the vehicle without waiting for an elapse of the predetermined period of time when detecting a vehicle stop request operation performed by a passenger in the vehicle within the predetermined period of time.