Systems, computer medium and computer-implemented methods for monitoring health and ergonomic status of drivers of vehicles

• US 8,872,640 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare Company
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Horseman, Samantha J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCORMACK, THOMAS S
• Application Number:
  US13/540,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20130009761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 180/271, 340/425.5, 340/573.1, 340/576, 701/34
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02 the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0872 Driver physiology
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0881 Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers

Abstract

Provided are embodiments of systems, computer medium and computer-implemented methods for monitoring a status of a driver when driving a vehicle. A system including a set of sensors configured to be disposed in the vehicle to collect driver status data. The system processing the driver status data to determine whether the driver is experiencing a health condition or crisis, and whether the driver'"'"'s body position is ergonomic. In response to a health condition, generating a health alert indicative of the health condition. In response to the driver a health crisis generating a health alert indicative of the health crisis and inhibiting operation of the vehicle. In response to the driver'"'"'s body position not being ergonomic, identifying and providing adjustments in the body position of the driver that need to be made for the driver to be positioned in a an ergonomically acceptable body position.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a status of a driver when driving a vehicle, the system comprising:

a driver status sensing system comprising a set of one or more driver status sensors configured to be disposed in the vehicle, the one or more driver status sensors comprising;

a set of one or more driver'"'"'s seat sensors configured to output seat data indicative of a position of a head, a torso and a leg of the driver relative to a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle;

a set of one or more floorboard sensors configured to output floorboard data indicative of a position of feet of the driver relative to a floorboard of the vehicle;

a set of one or more pedal sensors configured to output pedal data indicative of a position of feet of the driver relative to pedals of the vehicle;

a set of one or more steering wheel sensors configured to output steering wheel data indicative of a position of hands of the driver relative to a steering wheel of the vehicle;

a set of one or more rearview mirror sensors configured to output rearview mirror data indicative of a position of eyes of the driver relative to a rearview mirror of the vehicle; and

a set of one or more brain sensors configured to output neural data indicative of a brain activity of the driver,

the set of one or more driver status sensors configured to output driver status data corresponding to at least one of the seat data, the floorboard data, the pedal data, the steering wheel data, the rearview mirror data, and the neural data;

a driver status processing system configured to;

receive the driver status data output by the set of one or more driver status sensors;

process the driver status data to determine whether the driver is experiencing a health condition;

process the driver status data to determine whether the driver is experiencing a health crisis;

process the driver status data to determine whether a body position of the drive is ergonomically acceptable;

in response to determining that the driver is experiencing a health condition, generating a health alert indicative of the health condition that is configured to be displayed to the driver via a display of a driver status feedback system;

in response to determining that the driver is experiencing a health crisis;

generate a health alert indicative of the health crisis that is configured to be displayed to the driver via a display of the driver status feedback system; and

generate a command configured to cause inhibiting of operation of the vehicle; and

in response to determining that a body position of the drive is not ergonomically acceptable;

identify adjustments in the body position of the driver that need to be made for the driver to be positioned in an ergonomically acceptable body position; and

generate an ergonomic alert indicative of adjustments in the body position of the driver that need to be made for the driver to be positioned in an ergonomically acceptable body position that is configured to be displayed to the driver via a display of the driver status feedback system; and

the driver status feedback system comprising the display, the display being configured to display, to the driver, the health alert indicative of the health condition, the health alert indicative of the health crisis and the ergonomic alert indicative of adjustments in the body position of the driver that need to be made for the driver to be positioned in an ergonomically acceptable body position.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein processing the driver status data to determine whether a body position of the drive is ergonomically acceptable comprises:

determining a current body position of the driver based at least in part on the driver status data received;

identifying a target ergonomic body position;

comparing the current body position of the driver to the target ergonomic body position identified;

determining, based at least in part on the comparison, that a characteristic of the current body position of the driver does not satisfy a corresponding characteristic of the target ergonomic body position; and

determining that an adjustment needs to be made in the body position of the driver such that the characteristic of the current body position of the driver does satisfy the corresponding characteristic of the target ergonomic body position,

wherein identify adjustments in the body position of the driver that need to be made for the driver to be positioned in an ergonomically acceptable body position comprises identifying the adjustment that needs to be made in the body position of the driver such that the characteristic of the current body position of the driver does satisfy the corresponding characteristic of the target ergonomic body position.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the characteristic of the current body position comprises contact of a head of the driver with a headrest, contact of a back of the driver with a seat-back, contact of a buttock/upper legs of the driver with a seat-bottom, contact of feet of the driver with a floorboard, contact of feet of the driver with a pedal, contact of hands of the driver with a steering wheel, an eye level of the driver, a back angle of the driver, an upper leg angle of the driver, a knee angle of the driver, a shoulder angle of the driver, an elbow angle of the driver, or a bottom/back force ratio of the driver.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the characteristic of the current body position of the driver comprises a head position, a hand position, a back position or a foot position of the current body position of the driver.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the driver status processing system is further configured to, in response to determining that a body position of the driver is not ergonomically acceptable, generate a move command configured to cause automatic movement of at least one of a driver'"'"'s seat, pedals, a steering wheel or a rearview mirror of the vehicle to cause adjustments in the body position of the driver that need to be made for the driver to be positioned in an ergonomically acceptable body position.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the driver status processing system is configured to continuously receive the driver status data, process the driver status data to determine whether the driver is experiencing a health condition, whether the driver is experiencing a health crisis and whether a body position of the drive is ergonomically acceptable such that the driver is provided with real-time feedback indicative of whether the driver is experiencing a health condition, whether the driver is experiencing a health crisis, and whether a body position of the drive is ergonomically acceptable.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the health condition comprises fatigue, and wherein the health alert indicative of the health condition comprises a suggestion that the driver suspend driving the vehicle.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the command configured to cause inhibiting of operation of the vehicle comprises a command configured to slow the vehicle to a stop.