EP3464006A1

EP3464006A1 - Device for monitoring the driving habits of a driver of a transport vehicle and corresponding method

Info

Publication number: EP3464006A1
Application number: EP17725588.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jérémie PINOTEAU; Pantelis MAROUDIS
Original assignee: Valeo Comfort and Driving Assistance SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Comfort and Driving Assistance SAS
Priority date: 2016-05-25
Filing date: 2017-05-24
Publication date: 2019-04-10
Also published as: FR3051757A1; WO2017202901A1; FR3051757B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device (100) for monitoring the driving habits of a driver of a transport vehicle, comprising: - a unit (10) for monitoring said driver capable of recording a plurality of values of at least one behavioural parameter of the driver associated with said driving habits of the driver, - a unit (20) for recording a value of at least one operating parameter of the vehicle corresponding to the recording of each value of said behavioural parameter, and - a control unit (30) programmed to: determine a driving situation from each value of the operating parameter of the vehicle, depending on the determined driving situation, comparing said value of the behavioural parameter of the driver recorded during said driving situation with a reference value corresponding to reference driving habits for said driving situation, and emitting a warning signal intended for the driver when the value of the behavioural parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver for the determined driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the reference driving habits for said driving situation, repeatedly.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION REFERS

The present invention relates to a device for monitoring the driving habits of a transport vehicle driver and a corresponding method.

It finds a particularly advantageous application for monitoring the driving habits of a motor vehicle driver.

BACKGROUND

It is known to train drivers of transport vehicles to obtain a driving license by requiring them to acquire model driving habits designed to ensure their safety and that of potential passengers and / or other road users.

Unfortunately, these pattern driving habits are usually partly forgotten, neglected, or changed over time. For example, when the driver is regularly on a particular trip, or when he is on a trip, he tends to accelerate more than he should while doing fewer checks than he should. Usually, experienced drivers also perform fewer visual checks of mirrors or blind spots than younger drivers.

There are refresher courses to compensate for this deterioration in driving habits of drivers, but these courses are sometimes inconclusive and can not always restore the pattern of driving patterns.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the aforementioned drawback of the state of the art, the present invention proposes a device for monitoring the driving habits of a motor vehicle driver associated with driving situations.

More particularly, the invention proposes a device for monitoring the driving habits of a driver of a transport vehicle, comprising:

a monitoring unit for said conductor adapted to determining a plurality of values of at least one behavioral parameter of the driver associated with said driving habits of the driver,

a recording unit with a value of at least one parameter of operation of the vehicle corresponding to each value of said determined behavioral parameter, and

- a control unit programmed for:

determining a driving situation from each value of the operating parameter of the vehicle,

for each determined driving situation, comparing said value of the driver behavior parameter recorded during said driving situation with a reference value corresponding to reference driving habits for that driving situation, and

. issue a warning signal to the driver when the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driver's driving habits for the particular driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for that driving situation, repeatedly.

Thus, the tracking device according to the invention is adapted to alert the driver of the vehicle when his driving habits, for at least one particular driving situation, do not coincide with the driving habits of reference corresponding to this particular driving situation. repeatedly in time.

In other words, the tracking device according to the invention alerts the driver when, statistically, his driving habits in a given driving situation deviate from the corresponding reference habits.

The tracking device according to the invention thus makes the driver aware of his bad driving habits. In addition, it causes the driver to correct his bad driving habits to evolve towards the driving habits of reference.

Other nonlimiting and advantageous features of the device according to the invention are the following:

the driver monitoring unit comprises an image capture device adapted to follow the driver's gaze and / or the posture of the driver's head and / or a sensor adapted to detect the pressure of the hands on the steering wheel, and / or one or more sensors for operating the vehicle;

said behavioral parameter associated with the driver's driving habits comprises at least one of the following parameters: a relative parameter a visual check of the driver, in particular a control of the mirrors and / or blind spots of the vehicle, and / or a parameter relating to a position of the driver's hands on the steering wheel, and / or a parameter relating to a depression of an accelerator and / or brake pedal, and / or a parameter relating to an activation of a vehicle functionality such as the flashing lights;

the vehicle operating parameter whose value is recorded by the recording unit comprises at least one of the following parameters: a parameter relating to the angle of rotation of the steering wheel, a parameter relating to a speed of the vehicle, a parameter relating to the depression of an accelerator and / or vehicle braking pedal, a parameter relating to the activation of certain functionalities of the vehicle such as flashing lights or hazard warning lights, an environmental parameter relating to the location and / or weather conditions and / or driving schedule;

the driving situation is determined by the control unit from a list of predetermined driving situations;

- said list of predetermined driving situations includes at least one of the following: driving on a highway, driving on a mountain road, turning to the right or to the left, cornering, slowing down, emergency braking, changing lanes to the right or left, night driving, driving in the rain;

the control unit is programmed to determine that the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver for the determined driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for this driving situation when the difference between the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver for the determined driving situation and the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for this driving situation is greater than or equal to a predetermined difference threshold value;

the control unit is programmed to determine that the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver for the given driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the reference driving habits for this driving situation in a manner repeated when the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver for the determined driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for that driving situation a number of times greater than a predetermined repeat limit value or with a frequency higher than a predetermined frequency limit value;

- There is further provided a driver identification system, and wherein the values of the behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver are recorded in relation to an identifier of said driver determined by said identification system of the identified driver;

the difference threshold value and / or the repeat limit value and / or the frequency limit value is determined according to the identified conductor;

the warning signal emitted by the control unit is a message summarizing, for each determined driving situation, the driving habits of the driver deviating from the corresponding reference driving habits;

- The control unit is programmed to inform the driver of a change in his driving habits over time.

The invention also proposes a method for monitoring the driving habits of a driver of a transport vehicle comprising the following steps:

a) storing a plurality of values of at least one driver behavioral parameter associated with said driver's driving habits,

b) storing a value of at least one vehicle operating parameter corresponding to the recording of each value of said behavior parameter,

c) determining a driving situation from each value of the operating parameter recorded in step b),

d) for each driving situation determined in step c), comparing said value of the driver behavior parameter recorded during said driving situation to a reference value corresponding to reference driving habits for that driving situation, and

e) issue a warning signal to the driver when the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver driver for the determined driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for this driving situation, repeatedly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented.

In the accompanying drawings:

- Figure 1 shows schematically the various elements of the tracking device according to the invention; and,

- Figure 2 schematically shows the steps of the tracking method according to the invention.

In Figure 1, there is shown schematically the various elements of a tracking device 100 according to the invention.

This tracking device 100 is here adapted to be mounted in a motor vehicle to alert a driver of the vehicle of any bad driving habits in a given driving situation. In practice, the bad driving habits are those deviating from the model driving habits defined for said given driving situation.

More specifically, the tracking device 100 according to the invention comprises:

a monitoring unit 10 of said driver adapted to determine a plurality of values of at least one behavioral parameter of the driver associated with said driving habits of the driver,

a recording unit 20 with a value of at least one operating parameter of the vehicle corresponding to the recording of each value of said behavioral parameter, and

a control unit 30 programmed for:

. for each determined driving situation, comparing said value of the driver behavior parameter recorded during said driving situation with a reference value corresponding to reference driving habits for that driving situation, and

issue an alert signal to the driver when the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driver's driving habits for the determined driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for this driving situation, repeatedly.

In practice, the driving habits refer in particular to a gesture of conduct, that is to say, the actions that the driver makes when driving the vehicle.

Such driving habits include, for example, visual checks of the vehicle environment, such as checking blind spots and mirrors of the vehicle, the use of flashing lights or hazard warning lights, the holding of the steering wheel, or the braking and acceleration.

Thus, the driving habits of the driver are determined by monitoring at least one behavioral parameter of the driver.

To do this, the monitoring unit 10 comprises at least one device adapted to determine at least one behavioral parameter of the driver.

In practice, the monitoring unit 10 here comprises various devices adapted to determine and simultaneously record the value of various behavioral parameters of the driver.

Such behavioral parameters include, for example, a parameter relating to a visual inspection of the driver, in particular a control of the mirrors and / or blind spots of the vehicle, and / or a parameter relating to a position of the driver's hands on the steering wheel, and or a parameter relating to a depression of an accelerator and / or braking pedal, and / or a parameter relating to an activation of a vehicle functionality such as flashing lights, hazard warning lights or traffic lights. road for example.

They also include a parameter relating to a global control of the vehicle which reflects in particular whether or not speed limits are respected, whether or not the safety distances are respected, and the possible jerkiness of the steering wheel.

In particular, here, the driver monitoring unit 10 comprises an image capture device 1 1 adapted to follow the driver's gaze and / or the posture of the driver's head.

In the exemplary embodiment envisaged, the image capture device 11 comprises means for capturing images of the driver's head in the form of a camera, and means for analyzing these images. Thanks to this image capture device 1 1, the monitoring unit 10 is adapted to derive the values of the driver's behavioral parameters relating to the visual checks carried out by the driver in a central rearview mirror of the vehicle, in a left side mirror of the vehicle and in a right side mirror of the vehicle, as well as the values of the behavioral parameters relating to the visual inspection of the blind spots of the vehicle and of the vehicle environment by front left and right windows of the vehicle.

In particular, the values of the behavioral parameters relating to said visual controls are here revealing the existence of these controls, their order of completion, their frequency and their duration.

Here, in practice, the image capturing means of the driver's head is arranged to capture the driver's face in his driving position. It may for example be a camera disposed behind the steering wheel of the vehicle.

The analysis means of the image capture device 11 are adapted to deduce the data relating to the visual checks as a function of at least one image of the driver's head.

In particular, the control of the mirrors can be deduced from the direction of the driver's gaze on this image, and the visual controls of the blind spots and / or the front side windows can be deduced from the posture of the driver's head in this image.

The monitoring unit 10 here further comprises a measuring device 12 adapted to measure the other types of behavioral parameters associated with the driving habits of the driver, in addition to the visual controls already described.

Here, the measuring device 12 of the monitoring unit 10 comprises in particular a first sensor adapted to detect and record the pressure of the hands on the steering wheel of the vehicle, so that the monitoring unit 10 deduces the position of the hands of the driver on the steering wheel.

The measuring device 12 also comprises one or more sensors for operating the vehicle.

It includes a second sensor adapted to measure a parameter relating to the depression of the accelerator pedal and / or the brake pedal of the vehicle. The measuring device 12 furthermore comprises a third sensor adapted to detect the activation of certain functionalities of the vehicle such as flashing lights, and / or other vehicle lights such as hazard warning lights, fog lamps, high beam, etc.

The measuring device 12 further comprises a fourth sensor adapted to measure the speed of the vehicle, its trajectory and the distance with a vehicle in front of the vehicle and any other information available on the networks of the vehicle.

Alternatively, the measuring device can replace the image capture device described above.

The value of each behavior parameter is recorded by the monitoring unit 10 at a plurality of measurement times TM. In practice, these values are recorded here at a chosen regular time interval, for example every 0.1 seconds. This time interval corresponds for example to the image capture rate of the camera of the image capture device 1 1.

In the exemplary embodiment envisaged, it is provided that the values of the behavioral parameters recorded by the monitoring unit 10 are stored continuously in a memory 40, in correspondence with their measurement time TM.

Thus, the memory 40 is also adapted to memorize the order of completion of the driving gestures of the driver.

The recording unit 20 of the tracking device 100 is adapted to operate in parallel with the monitoring unit 10 previously described.

In practice, the recording unit 20 comprises at least one measurement sensor adapted to measure said operating parameter of the vehicle.

In practice, the recording unit 20 comprises different measurement sensors adapted to measure various operating parameters of the vehicle.

Such operating parameters comprise, for example, operating parameters relating to an angle of rotation of the steering wheel, to a speed of the vehicle, to the depression of the accelerator pedal and / or of the brake pedal of the vehicle, to the activation of flashing lights and / or other vehicle lights such as hazard warning lights, fog lamps, high beam, etc.

In particular, the angle of rotation parameter of the steering wheel is here measured by an angular sensor, with respect to a reference position of the steering wheel. chosen. Here, the reference position of the steering wheel is that corresponding to the right wheels. The value of the angle of rotation is for example given in degree)). This value is counted positively when the steering wheel is turned to the right, negatively when turned to the left.

The parameter of depression of the acceleration and braking pedals is measured by the second sensor described above. It is measured relative to the rest position of said pedals, that is to say when no pressure is exerted on it. The value of the depressing parameter is for example given in pressure unit (bar) or in percentage or on another arbitrary scale.

The speed of the vehicle is measured by an on-board speed sensor. The value of the vehicle speed is that displayed by the vehicle dashboard. It is for example given in kilometers per hour (km / h).

The activation parameter of the different lights of the vehicle is measured by the third sensor described above. The value associated with the activation of the different lights of the vehicle is 1 when the light is in operation and 0 when it is off.

The operating parameter of the vehicle may also include an environmental parameter relating to the location and / or the atmospheric conditions and / or the driving schedule.

For this purpose, the recording unit 20 comprises a GPS system (not shown), adapted to provide information concerning the position of the vehicle on a given path, the nature of the route taken and the associated speed limit.

It also includes a clock adapted to give the time of day, and an outdoor measuring sensor adapted to detect the weather and / or the state of the road (rain, ice, fog ...). This outdoor sensor can also be replaced by a meteorological information reception device.

Thanks to the various measurement sensors and / or the GPS system, and the clock, the recording unit 20 is adapted to record the value of each operating parameter of the vehicle at a plurality of recording times TE. In practice, the value of each operating parameter is here recorded at a chosen regular time interval, for example every second. The value of each operating parameter of the vehicle associated with its recording time TE is stored in the memory 40.

The value of each operating parameter corresponds temporally to the measurement time TM of each behavior parameter.

Thus, the values of the operating parameters corresponding to the value of the behavioral parameters measured at the instant TM are defined as those recorded at the recording instants TE included in a predetermined interval around the measurement instant TM.

In other words, the value of each recorded operating parameter corresponds to one of the values of one of the behavioral parameters measured when the recording of the operating parameter and the measurement of the behavioral parameter take place in a common time window. predetermined.

The control unit 30 of the tracking device 100 is adapted to receive information from the memory 40.

In particular, the control unit 30 receives from the memory 40 the value of at least one of the operating parameters of the vehicle corresponding temporally to one of the recording instants TE.

It then determines, according to this value of the operating parameter, a driving situation of the vehicle at the time of recording TE.

In practice, to determine the driving situation, the control unit 30 selects from a list of predetermined driving situations.

In practice, each of the driving situations is associated with at least one value of an operating parameter, but more generally with several values of several operating parameters.

The list of predetermined driving situations includes at least one of the following: driving on the highway, turning right or left, cornering, slowing down, emergency braking, changing lanes to the right or left, driving at night, driving in the rain, this list of driving situations is of course not exhaustive.

The driving situation may also be a combination of two or more of the driving situations listed above. In the embodiment described, the highway driving is associated with a vehicle speed value greater than or equal to 1 10 km / h.

The right turn is associated with a value of the rotation angle parameter of the positive flywheel greater than 45 °.

The lane change to the right is associated with a value of the rotation angle parameter of the positive flywheel between 10 ° and 45 °.

Similarly, the left turn is associated with a negative angle of rotation value of less than -45 °.

The change of driving lane to the left is associated with a value of the rotation angle parameter of the negative flywheel between -10 ° and -45 °.

The turns or lane changes, to the right or to the left, can also be associated with the value 1 of the corresponding flashing light. In practice, this value of the activation parameter of the flashing lights confirms or reinforces the determination of the driving situation.

The deceleration is associated with a moderate value of the brake pedal depressing parameter and a zero value of the accelerator pedal depressing parameter.

The emergency braking is associated with a high value of the parameter of depression of the brake pedal and one and a zero value of the parameter of depression of the accelerator pedal.

In practice, it will be considered that each driving situation is spread over a given time period. For example, when the driving situation is identified at the recording time TE as a turning point, it is actually considered that the driving situation is that surrounding the recording time TE of the turn. For example, the driving situation extends 30 seconds before the recording time TE and 30 seconds after the recording time TE.

Advantageously, the tracking device 100 according to the invention is programmed to deduce the current driving situation only from the values of the operating parameters of the vehicle.

In addition, the GPS system of the recording unit 20 being adapted to indicate routes to follow, is able to predict certain future driving situations, such as driving on a highway or a turn, for example. The control unit 30 is then programmed to take into account this vehicle path information, in addition to the values of the operating parameters thereof, in order to more accurately determine the current driving situation.

Once the driving situation has been determined, the control unit 30 is programmed to analyze the values of the behavioral parameters associated with the driver's driving habits recorded for this driving situation.

More specifically, the control unit 30 is programmed to compare the value of each recorded behavioral parameter corresponding to the time range associated with the determined driving situation, with the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for this situation. conduct.

The reference driving habits relate to the ideal driving actions that a driver should take in the face of a given driving situation. These driving habits of reference are for example in accordance with the recommendations of driving instructors when learning to drive.

For example, among the driving habits of reference, there may be mentioned regular visual checks of the vehicle environment, including regular checks of the central and left-side mirrors in France, whatever the driving situation.

In practice, in a motorway driving situation, the control of the central rearview mirror should be carried out every 4 seconds on average. Thus, the reference value of the central mirror control frequency for highway driving is between 0.2 Hz and 0.5 Hz. The reference value of the duration of each control between 0.2 s and 0 , 5 s.

In the case of a lane change situation to the right, the reference driving habits comprise the visual controls adapted to this lane change, namely, in this order, a control of the central rearview mirror, a control of the right lateral rearview mirror, a control of the blind spot on the right, as well as the activation of the right turn signal. The driving habits of reference for this driving situation are then the order of completion of the various driving actions (visual checks and activation of the flashing light) and the duration associated with said visual controls.

The behavioral parameter associated with the order of completion of the visual controls is for example the time difference between two successive controls. The reference values corresponding to these time differences are a maximum of 0.5 seconds between the control of the center mirror and the control of the right side mirror, not more than 0.5 seconds between the control of the right side mirror and the mirror. right blind spot, and a maximum of 0.5 seconds between the right dead angle control and the right turn signal.

The reference value corresponding to the duration of the checks is between 0.2 s and 0.7 s. In such a driving situation, the reference driving habits also include a central mirror control after the lane change is made. The reference value corresponding to the time difference between the actual lane change and the control of the central rear-view mirror is at most 0.5 seconds, said lane change being detected by the movement of the steering wheel. The reference value corresponding to the duration of this visual inspection of the central rearview mirror is between 0.2 s and 0.7 s.

In the case of a lane change situation to the left, the reference driving habits are similar on the left.

In the case of a right-turning situation, the driving habits patterns include, in this order, and successively, an activation of the right turn signal, a visual control of the vehicle environment through the front right side window, through the front side window left, then again through the front right side window.

The reference value associated with the time differences between two successive visual checks is at most 0.5 seconds.

The reference value associated with the duration of these visual checks is between 0.2 s and 1 s.

In case of turning left situation, driving habits are similar, left.

In a braking situation, the reference driving habits include, for example, in this order, a visual inspection of the central mirror and a depression of the brake pedal, and a regular control of the central rearview mirror throughout the braking period. Among the parameters corresponding behavioral reference, we find the time differences between two successive gestures to occur, these time differences translating the order of completion of gestures of conduct. The other reference behavioral parameters are the control frequency of the central mirror as well as the duration of each control of this rearview mirror.

The reference values of the successive time differences are, for example, at most 0.5 seconds, and the reference value of the duration of the visual controls is between 0.2 and 0.7 seconds, and the frequency of the visual controls is of the order of 1 second.

In the case of a night driving situation, reference habits recommend the use of high beam. The corresponding reference value is the value 1 of the high beam activation parameter.

In the event of a turn situation, the reference habits recommend, before the turn, to position both hands on the steering wheel, symmetrically on both sides of a generally vertical axis of the steering wheel when the wheels are straight, preferably in the upper part of the steering wheel.

For a particular driving situation, the control unit 30 is programmed to recover the values of the recorded behavioral parameters corresponding to the time range of this driving situation in the memory 40, and to compare them with the reference values defining the habits. of driving reference associated with this driving situation.

More specifically, the control unit 30 is programmed to evaluate the difference between the value of each behavioral parameter associated with the driver's driving habits for the determined driving situation and the reference value of this behavioral parameter corresponding to the driving habits. reference conduct for this driving situation.

In practice, the control unit 30 is programmed to consider that the value of each behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver for the determined driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for this situation. when the difference between these values is greater than or equal to a predetermined difference threshold value.

Here, the control unit 30 is programmed to evaluate the numerical difference existing between each recorded behavior parameter value. and the corresponding reference value, and to consider that these two values are different as soon as the evaluated digital deviation is greater than the predetermined difference threshold value.

The difference threshold value is predetermined independently for each type of behavioral parameter in each driving situation. This difference threshold value is for example given as a percentage.

By way of illustration, when the determined driving situation is motorway driving, the predetermined difference threshold value for the control frequency of the central rearview mirror is 20%. Thus, when the value of the control frequency of the registered rear view mirror deviates by more than 20% from the reference value of the control frequency of this mirror in this driving situation, the control unit 30 considers that there is a difference between the recorded values and the reference values.

The control unit 30 is further programmed to determine whether the detection of a difference between the value of at least one registered behavioral parameter and the corresponding reference value occurs repeatedly, when a given driving situation occurs. several times.

In other words, the control unit 30 is programmed to determine that the difference between the value of at least one behavior parameter associated with the driver's driving habits and the corresponding reference value for the determined driving situation is repeated when occurs a number of times greater than a predetermined repeat limit value.

Alternatively or additionally, the control unit 30 is programmed to consider that the difference between the value of at least one behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver and the corresponding reference value for the determined driving situation is repeated. when this difference occurs with a frequency greater than a predetermined frequency limit value.

The frequency of occurrence of this difference is estimated over a given time interval.

In practice, the repeat limit value and the frequency limit value are, for example, set in terms of percentage detection of a difference in a particular driving situation.

They are set independently for each driving situation special.

In the embodiment described here, the limit value of repetition is set at 70% whatever the driving situation.

Thus, if a difference between the value of at least one registered behavior parameter and the corresponding reference value is detected in 70% of the cases where a particular driving situation is determined, the control unit 30 considers that this difference occurs. repeatedly.

Thus, if in 70% of cases where a particular driving situation is determined, the control unit 30 detects a difference between the value of at least one registered behavior parameter and the corresponding reference value, this difference being greater than or equal to at the predetermined difference threshold value, the control unit 30 considers that the difference is repeated.

The control unit 30 of the tracking device 100 is then programmed to emit an alert signal to the driver when the value of at least one behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver for the determined driving situation is different. the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for this driving situation, repeatedly.

Here, the tracking device 100 is adapted to alert the driver via an existing interface 200 of the vehicle.

In practice, the interface 200 transmits, upon request from the control unit 30, messages intended for the driver to warn him when his driving habits do not coincide with the reference driving habits, for a driving situation. given, repeatedly.

The interface 200 comprises for example the dashboard and / or the vehicle speakers.

Alternatively the interface may be an independent element of the vehicle, such as a mobile phone type smartphone.

The messages transmitted by the interface 200 are written and / or voice messages and / or in the form of light or sound signals.

In practice, the messages sent here are voice messages synthesizing, for each particular driving situation, the driving habits of the driver deviating from the corresponding reference habits.

Such messages could for example be "In a situation of overtaking, you tend not to control your blind spot.

Voice messages can also be in the form of advice to the driver to correct bad driving habits.

Such advice could for example be "before turning to the right, think to control your environment on the right, on the left, then again on the right", or "be sure to trigger your hazard warning lights in the event of a slowdown in front of you, to warn the users arriving behind you ".

Here, the control unit 30 of the tracking device 100 according to the invention is also programmed to inform the driver of an evolution of his driving habits over time, for example after one week of driving, after a month of driving. , or after one year of driving.

For this purpose, the memory 40 of the tracking device 100 is adapted to store the detected differences between the values of the recorded behavioral parameters and the reference values for each determined driving situation.

The control unit 30 is then adapted to detect improvements or deteriorations in certain driving habits over time.

To do this, the control unit is programmed to compare the differences that occurred during particular driving situations over different periods of time, for example from one week to another or from one month to another.

Even more precisely, the control unit 30 being programmed to evaluate the difference existing between each registered behavior parameter value and each corresponding reference value, said control unit 30 is adapted to store in the memory 40 the numerical value of this gap.

The control unit 30 can then be programmed to compare in time, the differences between the value of each registered behavior parameter and the corresponding reference value.

The interface 200 is also adapted to provide a summary of changes in the driving habits of the driver over time. Here, the tracking device 100 further comprises an identification system 50 of the driver (see Figure 1).

This identification system 50 of the driver is adapted to determine an identifier of the driver.

In other words, it is adapted to associate the driver of the vehicle with an identifier.

Advantageously, this identification system 50 allows the tracking device 100 according to the invention to be adaptable to several drivers of the same vehicle.

Here, the identification system 50 is a system by facial recognition of the driver.

Alternatively, one could consider that it is a system by fingerprint recognition, by recognition of a specific key of the driver, or more simply by entering an authentication code (PIN code type) . This last option requires the intervention of the driver, before moving the vehicle.

The identification system 50 is adapted to communicate with the memory 40 and the control unit 30 of the tracking device 100 by means of the identifier.

More specifically, the values of each behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the identified driver are recorded in the memory in relation to the identifier of said driver.

The memory 40 can thus be adapted to store several sets of behavioral parameter values corresponding to several different conductors. The control unit 30 is then adapted to analyze the driving habits associated with each identified driver.

In particular, the difference threshold value associated with each type of behavioral parameter and the repeat limit value are then specific to the identified driver.

Advantageously, when the driver is learning the pipe, the threshold and limit values can be chosen very low, or lower than the values mentioned above, so as to increase the sensitivity of the tracking device 100.

Conversely, for an experienced driver, the threshold and limit values can be chosen higher to reduce the sensitivity of the tracking device.

Thanks to the identification system, the control unit 30 is adapted to send a message to the identified driver.

The control unit 30 is thus programmed to follow the evolution of the driving habits of each of the potential drivers of the vehicle.

Moreover, according to a possible variant of the tracking device, it is possible to increase the sensitivity of the latter. In particular, the sensitivity increase can be imposed when the driver takes a known path detected by the GPS system of the tracking device.

The tracking device according to the invention is adapted to implement a method of monitoring the driving habits of the driver of the transport vehicle which comprises the following steps:

a) storing a plurality of values of at least one behavioral parameter of the driver associated with said driver's driving habits (E1),

b) storing a value of at least one vehicle operating parameter corresponding to the recording of each value of said behavioral parameter (E2),

all of these values being stored in the memory 40 (E3), c) determining a driving situation from each value of the operating parameter recorded in step b) (E4),

d) for each driving situation determined in step c), comparing said driver behavioral parameter value recorded during said driving situation with a reference value corresponding to reference driving habits for that driving situation (E5) , and

e) issuing a warning signal to the driver when the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driver's driving habits for the particular driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for that driving situation , repeatedly.

In other words, the control unit 30 detects in step d) whether in fact a difference has occurred between the driver's driving habits and the reference driving habits (E6), and then implements step e) in recording in the memory 40 (E7) the difference detected at the step d) for the driving situation determined in step c). The control unit 30 then monitors whether, when the driving situation is determined again, a difference occurs again (E8).

The control unit 30 finally alerts the driver (E9) when a difference is detected for the determined driving situation, repeatedly.

Claims

1. Device for tracking (100) the driving habits of a driver of a transport vehicle, comprising:

a monitoring unit (10) of said driver adapted to determine a plurality of values of at least one driver's behavioral parameter associated with said driver's driving habits,

a recording unit (20) with a value of at least one operating parameter of the vehicle corresponding to each value of said determined behavioral parameter, and

a control unit (30) programmed for:

issue a warning signal to the driver when the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driver's driving habits for the particular driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for that driving situation, repeatedly.

The tracking device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the driver monitoring unit (10) comprises an image capture device (1 1) adapted to follow the driver's gaze and / or the posture of the driver. the driver's head and / or a sensor adapted to detect the hand pressure on the steering wheel, and / or one or more sensors for operating the vehicle.

The tracking device (100) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver comprises at least one of the following parameters:

a parameter relating to a visual control of the driver, in particular to a control of the mirrors and / or blind spots of the vehicle, and / or

a parameter relating to a position of the driver's hands on the steering wheel, and / or a parameter relating to a depression of an accelerator and / or braking pedal, and / or

- a parameter relating to an activation of a vehicle functionality such as flashing lights.

The tracking device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation parameter of the vehicle whose value is recorded by the recording unit (20) comprises at least one of the following parameters :

a parameter relating to the angle of rotation of the steering wheel,

a parameter relating to a speed of the vehicle,

a parameter relating to the depression of an accelerator and / or braking pedal of the vehicle,

- a parameter relating to the activation of certain vehicle functions such as flashing lights or hazard lights,

an environmental parameter relating to the place and / or the atmospheric conditions and / or the driving schedule.

The tracking device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the driving situation is determined by the control unit from a list of predetermined driving situations.

The tracking device (100) according to claim 5, wherein said list of predetermined driving situations comprises at least one of the following situations: driving on the highway, driving on a mountain road, turning to the right or to the left, turning , slow down, emergency braking, right or left lane change, night driving, driving in the rain.

The tracking device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit (30) is programmed to determine that the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver for the driving situation. determined is different from the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of reference for that driving situation when the difference between the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver for the particular driving situation and the reference value corresponding to the driving driving habits of reference for this driving situation is greater than or equal to a predetermined difference threshold value.

The tracking device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control unit is programmed to determine that the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver for the determined driving situation is different. the reference value corresponding to the reference driving habits for this driving situation repeatedly when the value of the behavioral parameter associated with the driver's driving habits for the determined driving situation is different from the reference value corresponding to the driving habits of the driver; reference line for this driving situation a number of times greater than a predetermined repeat limit value or with a frequency higher than a predetermined frequency limit value.

9. Tracking device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein there is further provided a driver identification system (50), and wherein the values of the behavioral parameter associated with the driving habits of the driver. driver are recorded in relation to an identifier of said driver determined by said identification system (50) of the identified driver.

The tracking device (100) according to claim 9, wherein the difference threshold value and / or the repeat limit value and / or the frequency limit value is determined according to the identified conductor.

1 1. Tracking device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the warning signal issued by the control unit is a message summarizing, for each determined driving situation, the driving habits of the driver s' departing from the corresponding reference driving habits.

12. Tracking device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, wherein the control unit is programmed to inform the driver of an evolution of his driving habits over time.

13. A method of tracking the driving habits of a driver of a transport vehicle comprising the steps of:

b) register a value of at least one operating parameter of the vehicle corresponding to the recording of each value of said behavioral parameter,