Customized vehicle operation based on driver status

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021380080-A1
Application number	US-202016892137-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 3, 2020
Priority date	Jun 3, 2020
Publication date	Dec 9, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to assisted driving of a vehicle. The response time of the driver may be measured and control operations may be adjusted to accommodate or compensate the response time of the driver. Predictive actions in anticipation of a slightly delayed input from the driver may be taken to avoid potentially dangerous conditions. A vehicle may be controlled to slow down to allow more time to a potential event to accommodate a slow response from the driver.

First claim

Therefore, the following is claimed:

1 . A system, comprising:
a sensor system configured to generate sensor data indicating proximity to objects; a memory that stores program instructions; and a processor configured to execute the program instructions to cause the processor to:
analyze the sensor data to determine a braking condition based on a proximity and velocity in relation to an object;
set a driver status based on whether a driver brake input is received within a predetermined window of time following the braking condition; and
update a braking system according to the driver status, wherein the braking system is configured to generate brake signals to cause a vehicle to decelerate, the braking system comprising a pedal configured to receive the driver brake input.

2 . The system of claim 1 , the driver status is set to a low alertness status in response to the driver brake input not being received within the predetermined window of time following the braking condition.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to update the braking system by increasing a brake sensitivity parameter according to the driver status being set to the low alertness status.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to update the braking system by activating an autonomous driving mode according to the low alertness status, wherein the autonomous driving mode is configured to generate a braking signal in response to the sensor data indicating that at least a proximity to the object exceeds a threshold level.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the braking system is configured to generate at least some brake signals proportional to the driver brake input.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the braking system is configured to generate at least some brake signals using an autonomous driving system.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an audio or visual indicator configured to be activated in response to the braking condition.

8 . A system, comprising:
an interface to a braking system, the braking system being configured to generate brake signals to cause a vehicle to decelerate, the braking system comprising a pedal configured to receive a driver brake input to generate at least some of the brake signals; a memory that stores program instructions; and a processor configured to execute the program instructions to cause the processor to:
determine a level of driver alertness by analyzing at least one driver input in response to a condition, wherein the level of driver alertness is recorded as a driver status;
adjusting a configuration of the braking system according to the driver status.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the condition comprises a braking condition based on a proximity to an object.

10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising an audio or visual indicator configured to be activated in response to the braking condition.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the configuration of the braking system is adjusted to automatically generate a brake signal in response to detecting a braking condition using a sensor system.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the condition is generated by a test system configured to measure driver reaction time.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the condition comprises a visual indicator and wherein the driver input comprises the driver brake input.

14 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a sensor system configured to generate sensor data indicating a proximity to objects.

15 . A computer implemented method, the method comprising:
detecting, by a processor, whether a driver provides a driver input within a predetermined window of time following a condition; setting, by the processor, a driver status based on whether a driver input is received within the predetermined window of time; and activating an autonomous driving mode, by the processor, according to the driver status, wherein the autonomous driving mode is configured to generate a braking signal in response to sensor data indicating that at least a proximity to the object exceeds a threshold level.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the condition comprises a braking condition based on the sensor data, wherein a pedal of the braking system is configured to receive the driver input.

17 . The method of claim 16 , automatically generating a brake signal in response to the driver input not being received within the predetermined window of time following the braking condition.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising activating an audio or visual indicator in response to the braking condition.

19 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the condition is generated by a test system configured to measure driver reaction time.

20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the condition comprises a visual indicator and wherein the driver input comprises an actuation of a brake pedal of a braking system.

Assignees

• Micron Technology Inc

Inventors

• Bielby Robert Richard Noel

Classifications

• B60W2540/229

  Attention level, e.g. attentive to driving, reading or sleeping · CPC title

• B60W2040/0818

  Inactivity or incapacity of driver · CPC title

• B60W50/12

  Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation · CPC title

• B60W50/10 Primary

  Interpretation of driver requests or demands · CPC title

• B60W40/08

  related to drivers or passengers · CPC title