Vehicle Control Method for Adapting Dynamic Vehicle Performance to the Psychophysical Condition of the Driver

• US 20110213511A1
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ferrari SPA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Ferrari SPA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Calvosa, Antonio, Visconti, Amedeo
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour

Abstract

A method of controlling a driver-operated vehicle; the method including the steps of:

• • recording the values of a number of psychophysical parameters of the driver over a first measuring interval; making a first evaluation of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition on the basis of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical parameter values over the first measuring interval; recording the values of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical parameters over a second measuring interval following the first measuring interval; making a second evaluation of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition on the basis of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical parameter values over the second measuring interval; comparing the first and second evaluation of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition to determine a change in the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition; and modifying the dynamic performance of the vehicle as a function of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition, to adapt dynamic performance of the vehicle to the change in the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition.

Claims

1. ) A method of controlling a driver-operated vehicle (1);

the method comprising the steps of;

recording the values of a number of psychophysical parameters of the driver over a first measuring interval;

making a first evaluation of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition on the basis of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical parameter values over the first measuring interval;

recording the values of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical parameters over a second measuring interval following the first measuring interval;

making a second evaluation of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition on the basis of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical parameter values over the second measuring interval;

comparing the first and second evaluation of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition to determine a change in the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition; and

modifying the dynamic performance of the vehicle (1) as a function of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition, to adapt dynamic performance of the vehicle (1) to the change in the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition.

2. ) A method as claimed in claim 1, and comprising the further step of allowing a time lapse between the end of the first measuring interval and the start of the second measuring interval.

3. ) A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and comprising the further steps of:

comparing the first and second evaluation of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition to determine whether the change in the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition tends towards satisfaction or dissatisfaction;

increasing response of the vehicle (1) to driver control, if the change in the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition tends towards satisfaction;

reducing response of the vehicle (1) to driver control, if the change in the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition tends towards dissatisfaction; and

making no change in response of the vehicle (1) to driver control, if the satisfaction/dissatisfaction change between the two evaluations of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition is insignificant.

4. ) A method as claimed in claim 3, and comprising the further step of evaluating the driver'"'"'s satisfaction/dissatisfaction level by analysing the values of physical parameters of the driver.

5. ) A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the physical parameters of the driver used to evaluate the satisfaction/dissatisfaction level comprise heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductivity.

6. ) A method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, and comprising the further steps of:

comparing the first and second evaluation of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition to determine whether the change in the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition tends towards excitement or relaxation;

increasing response of the vehicle (1) to driver control, if the change in the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition tends towards excitement;

reducing response of the vehicle (1) to driver control, if the change in the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition tends towards relaxation; and

making no change in response of the vehicle (1) to driver control, if the excitement/relaxation change between the two evaluations of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition is insignificant.

7. ) A method as claimed in claim 6, and comprising the further step of evaluating the driver'"'"'s excitement/relaxation level by analysing the values of gestural parameters of the driver.

8. ) A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the gestural parameters of the driver used to evaluate the excitement/relaxation level comprise how often the controls of the vehicle (1) are operated, and how fast the controls of the vehicle (1) are operated.

9. ) A method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, and comprising the further steps of:

determining the context in which the vehicle (1) is driven;

making an evaluation of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical condition on the basis of the driver'"'"'s psychophysical parameter values over the relative measuring interval, and as a function of the context in which the vehicle (1) is driven over the relative measuring interval.

10. ) A method as claimed in claim 9, and comprising the further steps of:

recording the performance time pattern of the vehicle (1) and/or the location of the vehicle (1);

determining the context in which the vehicle (1) is driven as a function of the performance time pattern of the vehicle (1) and/or of the location of the vehicle (1).

11. ) A method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the driver controls the vehicle by acting physically on a number of control devices, the positions of which are recorded by respective sensors and transmitted to an electronic central control unit (16), which interprets the positions by means of corresponding transfer functions;

and adjusting response of the vehicle (1) to driver control comprises adjusting the gain of the transfer functions.

12. ) A method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, wherein increasing response of the vehicle (1) to driver control comprises delaying and/or reducing intervention of various electronic driving-aid devices;

and, conversely, reducing response of the vehicle (1) to driver control comprises accelerating and/or increasing intervention of various electronic driving-aid devices.