METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE

• US 20140148988A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: LATHROP, William Brian, GLASER, Erik, COSER, Nathaniel, GRANT, Bryan, TOGGWEILER, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,031,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0095 Automatic control mode change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicle which includes obtaining, via at least one detecting device, behavior information of a driver in the vehicle, and transitioning control statuses of the vehicle according to the driver behavior information.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

obtaining, via at least one detecting device, behavior information of a driver in the vehicle, wherein the driver behavior information comprises data relating to at least one of

a distance of a driver'"'"'s body part relative to a part of the vehicle, and

an orientation of a driver'"'"'s body part within the vehicle; and

transitioning a control status of the vehicle based on the driver behavior information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the control status of the vehicle comprises driver control status, semi-autonomous control status and autonomous control status.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning of control statuses comprises controlling at least one vehicle control unit in the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing video and/or audio information for the different control statuses to the driver.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of behavior information comprises detecting contact or detecting lack of contact between at least one hand of the driver and a steering wheel of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of behavior information comprises detecting contact or detecting lack of contact between a foot or a shoe of the driver and a brake or gas pedal surface of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of behavior information comprises detecting whether the eyes of the driver are directed toward a forward way of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning comprises transitioning the vehicle control status according to a combination of the obtained driver behavior information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning comprises transitioning the vehicle to autonomous control status from driver control status, when the driver behavior information is that the eyes of the driver are not directed toward the forward way of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning comprises transitioning the vehicle to driver control status when the driver behavior information is that the at least one hand of the driver is on the steering wheel, foot or shoe is on the brake or gas pedal, and the eyes are directed toward the forward way.

2. (canceled)

12. A vehicle system in a vehicle for controlling the vehicle status, the system comprising:

at least one detecting device for obtaining behavior information of a driver in the vehicle, wherein the driver behavior information comprises data relating to at least one of

a distance of a driver'"'"'s body part relative to a part of the vehicle, and

an orientation of a driver'"'"'s body part within the vehicle; and

a controlling device for transitioning a control status of the vehicle according to the driver behavior information.

14. The vehicle system of claim 12, wherein the control status of the vehicle comprises driver control status, semi-autonomous control status and autonomous control status.

15. The vehicle system of claim 12, wherein the control device comprises a master controller for determining a control message according to the driver behavior information, and at least one vehicle control unit for transitioning the control status according to the control message.

16. The vehicle system of claim 12, wherein the at least one detecting device is adapted to detect contact or lack of contact between at least one hand of the driver and a steering wheel of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle system of claim 12, wherein the at least one detecting device is adapted to detect contact or lack of contact between a foot or a shoe of the driver and a brake or a gas pedal surface of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle system of claim 12, wherein the at least one detecting device is adapted to detect whether the eyes of the driver are directed toward the forward way of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle system of claim 12, wherein the controlling device is adapted to change the vehicle control status based on a combination of the driver behavior information.

20. The vehicle system of claim 12, further comprising an infotainment system for providing information for the different statuses of the system to the driver.

13. (canceled)

21. A vehicle, comprising a vehicle system for controlling a vehicle status, the system comprising:

at least one detecting device for obtaining behavior information of a driver in the vehicle, wherein the driver behavior information comprises data relating to at least one of

a distance of a driver'"'"'s body part relative to a part of the vehicle, and

an orientation of a driver'"'"'s body part within the vehicle; and

a controlling device for transitioning a control status of the vehicle according to the driver behavior information.