Inattentive vehicular operator detection method and arrangement

• US 8,068,979 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/045,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication

Abstract

Method and arrangement for determining inattentiveness of an operator of a vehicle includes determining the position of the vehicle, analyzing the determining position of the vehicle relative to a map, monitoring motion of the vehicle relative to the map to determine whether the vehicle is deviating from the map, and providing a warning when the monitored motion of the vehicle deviates from normal motion or operation of the vehicle. The position of the vehicle may be determined using a satellite-based positioning system and an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The IMU may be a MEMS-packaged IMU integrated with the satellite-based positioning systems.

Claims

1. A method for determining inattentiveness of an operator of a vehicle, comprising:

providing the vehicle with a map database including data about location of traffic control devices having a variable status;

determining the position of the vehicle using a satellite-based positioning system and an inertial measurement unit (IMU);

analyzing the determining position of the vehicle relative to a map derived from the map database;

monitoring motion of the vehicle relative to the map to determine whether the vehicle violates instructions or limitations being provided by the traffic control devices when the vehicle is subject to the traffic control devices which violation is considered a deviation from normal motion or operation of the vehicle; and

providing a warning when the monitored motion of the vehicle deviates from normal motion or operation of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the position of the vehicle is further determined using a Kalman filter error correction system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the IMU is a MEMS-packaged IMU integrated with the satellite-based positioning system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the map database with data on edges of travel lanes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of monitoring motion of the vehicle relative to the map further comprises determining whether the vehicle crosses an edge of the travel lane which is considered a deviation from normal motion or operation of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning is provided to the operator of the vehicle via a warning system in the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a system in the vehicle which slows or stops motion of the vehicle when the monitored motion of the vehicle deviates from normal motion or operation of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning is provided to operators of other vehicles.

9. A vehicular control arrangement for determining inattentiveness of an operator of the vehicle, comprising:

a system for determining the position of the vehicle, said position determining system comprising a satellite-based positioning system and an inertial measurement unit (IMU);

a processor coupled to said position determining system and including a map database, said database including data about traffic control devices having a variable status, said processor analyzing the determining position of the vehicle relative to map data from said database and monitoring motion of the vehicle relative to the map data to determine whether the vehicle violates instructions or limitations being provided by the traffic control devices when the vehicle is subject to the traffic control devices which violation is considered a deviation from normal motion or operation of the vehicle; and

a warning system coupled to said processor for providing a warning when the monitored motion of the vehicle deviates from normal motion or operation of the vehicle.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, further comprising a vehicle motion control system arranged in the vehicle and coupled to said processor to slow or stop motion of the vehicle if the vehicle does not slow down or stop in response to the warning provided by said warning system.

11. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said position determining system further comprises a Kalman filter error correction system.

12. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said IMU is a MEMS-packaged IMU integrated with said satellite-based positioning system.

13. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said database has an accuracy of 2 cm (1 σ

).

14. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said database further includes data on edges of travel lanes.

15. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein said processor is further arranged to determine whether the vehicle crosses an edge of the travel lane which is considered a deviation from normal motion or operation of the vehicle.

16. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said warning system is arranged in the vehicle to provide a warning to the operator of the vehicle.

17. The arrangement of claim 9, further comprising a system in the vehicle which slows or stops motion of the vehicle when the monitored motion of the vehicle deviates from normal motion.

18. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said warning system includes a communication system to communicate data about the monitored motion of the vehicle to operators of other vehicles.