VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD

• US 20190329791A1
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2017
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: OBA, EIJI
• Application Number:
  US16/466,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20190329791A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/229 Attention level, e.g. attentive to driving, reading or sleeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0053 from vehicle to occupant
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08

Abstract

The present technology relates to a vehicle control apparatus and a vehicle control method that allow safer automated driving. The vehicle control apparatus includes a driver monitoring section and a penalty application section. The driver monitoring section detects a driving intervention level indicating an extent to which the driver intervenes in driving of a vehicle. The penalty application section applies a penalty disadvantageous to the driver in the case where the driving intervention level is insufficient. The present technology is applicable, for example, to a vehicle control apparatus that controls automated driving.

Claims

1. A vehicle control apparatus comprising:

a driver monitoring section detecting a driving intervention level indicating an extent to which a driver intervenes in driving of a vehicle; and

a penalty application section applying a penalty disadvantageous to the driver in a case where the driving intervention level is insufficient.

2. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the penalty application section applies the penalty when the driving intervention level is insufficient in a case where an automated driving level makes a transition from a no-driving intervention level to a driving intervention level.

3. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a driving support section restricting driving maneuvers until the driver properly responds to a given instruction in a case where the insufficient driving intervention level is resolved after the penalty has been applied.

4. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the penalty application section applies the penalty in a case where the driving intervention level remains insufficient even after a process has been performed to alert the driver before application of the penalty.

5. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the penalty application section applies the penalty on the basis of at least one of the number of occurrences of the insufficient driving intervention level or a frequency of occurrences thereof.

6. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the penalty application section changes the penalty to be applied in a case where the application of the penalty is repeated.

7. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the penalty causes discomfort or reduces convenience for the driver.

8. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the penalty includes bringing a backrest of a driver'"'"'s seat closer to a vertical direction relative to a seating surface.

9. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the penalty includes restricting an upper limit speed of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the penalty includes restricting automated driving functions of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the penalty includes changing a traveling route so that the vehicle will pass a route that requires the driver'"'"'s intervention in driving.

12. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the penalty application section applies the penalty after arrival of the vehicle at a destination or after forceful halting of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the penalty application section prohibits the vehicle from starting for a given time period.

14. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the penalty application section records, in a log, information regarding the penalty to be applied after the arrival of the vehicle at the destination or after the forceful halting of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the driver monitoring section determines whether or not the driving intervention level is insufficient on the basis of a condition that varies depending on the automated driving level.

16. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the penalty application section stops the application of the penalty in the case where the insufficient driving intervention level is resolved.

17. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a driver'"'"'s condition detection section detecting at least one of driver'"'"'s responsiveness or awakening level, wherein

the driver monitoring section detects the driving intervention level by using at least one of the driver'"'"'s responsiveness or awakening level.

18. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the driver'"'"'s condition detection section detects at least one of the driver'"'"'s responsiveness or awakening level on the basis of the driver'"'"'s response to a stimulus or an instruction given to the driver.

19. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

the driver'"'"'s condition detection section gives an instruction via an information processing apparatus used by the driver.

20. A vehicle control method comprising:

a driver monitoring step of detecting a driving intervention level indicating a level at which a driver intervenes in driving of a vehicle; and

a penalty application step of applying a penalty disadvantageous to the driver in a case where the driving intervention level is insufficient.