System and method for automatic driver evaluation

• US 20080108022A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastern Virginia Medical School
• Original Assignee: Eastern Virginia Medical School
• Inventors: Freund, Barbara
• Granted Patent: US 8,297,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/69
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for automatic driver evaluation of a person'"'"'s driving capabilities and render an outcome of pass, fail, or pass with restrictions without the need for a trained observer to evaluate driver'"'"'s performance. In one embodiment, the automatic driver evaluation system facilitates the display of a predetermined driving route designed for a predetermined demography, observe simulated driving performance of a user on the predetermined driving route, record errors made by the user while performing the simulated drive, and compare the performance errors to at least one threshold value and generate a score based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating driving capabilities of a user in a simulated environment comprising the steps of:

recording performance errors of users performing simulated drive, wherein the users belong to a predetermined demography, wherein the simulated drive is performed on a predetermined driving route designed for the predetermined demography;

comparing the performance errors to at least one threshold value, wherein the threshold value include at least two hazardous errors, at least two traffic violations, or at least one rule violations and at least one traffic violations; and

displaying outcome as pass with restrictions if the performance errors include at least one hazardous error, at least one traffic violations, or at least one rule violations.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performance errors include hazardous errors, traffic violations, or rule violations.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein pass with restrictions include limited driving, reevaluation, co-pilot, environmental restrictions, and retraining/equipment needs.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein limited driving includes limit driving distance to familiar areas and limit driving time due to fatigue.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein reevaluation include discontinue driving until medication adjustment/reevaluation and discontinue driving until medical follow-up and reevaluation.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein co-pilot include navigator for unfamiliar areas.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein environmental restrictions include daytime only and use traffic for speed cues.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein retraining/equipment needs include adaptive equipment needed and gradually increase driving exposure.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying performance outcome as fail if at least two performance errors are hazardous errors.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying performance outcome as fail if the performance errors are at least two traffic violations.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying performance outcome as fail if the performance errors are at least one rule violations and at least one traffic violations.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined driving route comprises driving tasks.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the driving tasks comprises stopping on red light when executing right turns, left turns when there is no oncoming or cross traffic, left turns when there is oncoming traffic, driver has throughway during green lights, driver required to stop at stop-signs, driver required to change lane when there is a reduction in number of lanes, driver required to slow speed to avoid collision when pedestrians are jaywalking, driver required to slow speed to avoid collision when cars pull into path of driver, and driver required to change speeds when speed limit changes.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein the hazardous errors comprises crash involving pedestrian, crash involving building, crash involving vehicle, driving in the lane of oncoming traffic, turning from the wrong lane, unable to maintain lane position, and unintended acceleration.

15. The method according claim 2, wherein the traffic violations comprises running red light, running stop sign, speeding, driving at a speed of at least 10 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit, stopping without reason, and straddling lane for at least 6 seconds.

16. The method according claim 2, wherein the rule violations comprises failing to turn, turning in direction opposite of command, and poor control of vehicle during divided attention task.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the errors made by the user while performing the simulated drive is determined for at least 30 minutes.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the errors made by the user while performing the simulated drive is determined until the completion of the last driving task in the predetermined route.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined driving route is at least one urban course.

20. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining fitness to drive based on the errors made by the user while performing the simulated drive.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined demography comprises 60 years or older.

22. A system for evaluating driving capabilities of a user in a simulated environment comprising:

a first display device configured to display a predetermined driving route, wherein the predetermined driving route is designed for a predetermined demography;

a control device configured to observe simulated driving performance of a user on the predetermined driving route;

a storage device configured to store errors made by the user while performing the simulated drive;

a comparator configured to the performance errors to at least one threshold value, wherein the threshold value include at least two hazardous errors, at least two traffic violations, or at least one rule violations and at least one traffic violations; and

a second display device configured to display outcome as pass with restrictions if the performance errors include at least one hazardous error, at least one traffic violations, or at least one rule violations.

23. The system according to claim 22, further comprising a plurality of input devices for controlling the position of a simulated vehicle in the simulated environment.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the input device comprises accelerator pedal, brake pedals, adjustable seats, throttle, dashboard, and steering wheel.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the display unit provides at least 135 degree angle field of view.

26. The system according to claim 22, wherein the simulated environment is a driving cab.

27. The system according to claim 22, wherein the simulated environment comprises at least one desk, at least one chair, modular steering, modular dash, and at least one modular pedal.

28. The system according to claim 22, wherein the display unit comprises a ceiling mounted digital projector, and at least one screen.

29. The system according to claim 22, wherein the display unit comprises a computer monitor.

30. A computer program product, residing on a computer-readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer instructions for configuring a computer to perform the acts of:

recording performance errors of users performing simulated drive, wherein the users belong to a predetermined demography, wherein the simulated drive is performed on a predetermined driving route designed for the predetermined demography;

comparing the performance errors to at least one threshold value, wherein the threshold value include at least two hazardous errors, at least two traffic violations, or at least one rule violations and at least one traffic violations; and

displaying outcome as pass with restrictions if the performance errors include at least one hazardous error, at least one traffic violations, or at least one rule violations.

31. The product of claim 30, wherein the instructions for performing the act of comparing the performance errors to at least one threshold value further comprising the instructions for performing the act of:

displaying performance outcome as fail if at least two performance errors are hazardous errors.

32. The product of claim 30, wherein the instructions for performing the act of comparing the performance errors to at least one threshold value further comprising the instructions for performing the act of:

displaying performance outcome as fail if the performance errors are at least two traffic violations.

33. The product of claim 30, wherein the instructions for performing the act of comparing the performance errors to at least one threshold value further comprising the instructions for performing the act of:

displaying performance outcome as fail if the performance errors are at least one rule violations and at least one traffic violations.

34. The product of claim 30, wherein the instructions for performing the act of comparing the performance errors to at least one threshold value further comprising the instructions for performing the act of:

determining fitness to drive based on the errors made by the user while performing the simulated drive.