GB2603474A - A method for generating an alarm signal for a driver of a motor vehicle by an assistance system - Google Patents

A method for generating an alarm signal for a driver of a motor vehicle by an assistance system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2603474A
GB2603474A GB2101336.2A GB202101336A GB2603474A GB 2603474 A GB2603474 A GB 2603474A GB 202101336 A GB202101336 A GB 202101336A GB 2603474 A GB2603474 A GB 2603474A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
assistance system
driver
traffic light
motor vehicle
alarm signal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB2101336.2A
Other versions
GB202101336D0 (en
Inventor
Saney Kavita
Gee Kevin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mercedes Benz Group AG
Original Assignee
Daimler AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daimler AG filed Critical Daimler AG
Priority to GB2101336.2A priority Critical patent/GB2603474A/en
Publication of GB202101336D0 publication Critical patent/GB202101336D0/en
Publication of GB2603474A publication Critical patent/GB2603474A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
    • G08G1/096766—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission
    • G08G1/096783—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/09623—Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V20/00—Scenes; Scene-specific elements
    • G06V20/50—Context or environment of the image
    • G06V20/56—Context or environment of the image exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
    • G06V20/58—Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
    • G06V20/584—Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads of vehicle lights or traffic lights
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V20/00—Scenes; Scene-specific elements
    • G06V20/50—Context or environment of the image
    • G06V20/59—Context or environment of the image inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
    • G06V20/597—Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
  • Traffic Control Systems (AREA)

Abstract

While a motor vehicle 10 is stopped at a traffic light 24, on-board camera 16 detects a viewing direction 22 of its driver 20 and assistance system 12 detects a traffic light changing signal 26. Depending on the detected viewing direction (e.g. if the driver’s gaze is diverted from the road or traffic light) and a predetermined time period before the light changes in the traffic light, an alarm signal is generated by an electronic computing device 14 of the assistance system. The traffic light changing signal may be transmitted to the assistance system by the traffic light or by a traffic guidance system. Alternatively, it may be detected by a front camera 30 of the assistance system, which may also detect a red-light countdown of the traffic light. The alarm signal may be haptic – e.g. vibration of the vehicle’s steering wheel 32 or seat. A distracted driver may thus be warned that the traffic light is about to change to green.

Description

A METHOD FOR GENERATING AN ALARM SIGNAL FOR A DRIVER OF A MOTOR
VEHICLE BY AN ASSISTANCE SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for generating an alarm signal for a driver of a motor vehicle by an assistance system of the motor vehicle as well as to a corresponding assistance system.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0002] Distracted driving statistics show that a plurality of car accidents are caused by the driver being distracted in some way from concentrating on driving or focusing on the road. This includes lethal accidents as well. In particular, crashes involving teen drivers are frequently a result of distracted driving. More specifically, the teen drivers are often involved in a car accident where they are distracted by cell phones, which is an increasingly common behavior at traffic light intersections. There is a need in the art to alarm distracted drivers in particular at traffic light intersections.
[0003] The article "Gaze and Eye Tracking: Techniques and Applications in ADAS" published online on December 14, 2019 by Muhammad Quasim Kahn and Sukhan Lee describes that tracking drivers' eyes and gazes is a topic of great interest in the research of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). It is especially a matter of serious discussion among the road safety researchers' community, as visual distraction is considered to be among the major causes of road accidents. In this paper, techniques for eye and gaze tracking are first comprehensively reviewed while discussing their major categories. The advantages and limitations of each category are explained with respect to their requirements and practical uses. However, there is still a need for an improved method for generating an alarm signal for a driver of a motor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a method as well as a corresponding assistance system, by which the safety of a motor vehicle is enhanced.
[0005] This object is solved by a method as well as a corresponding assistance system according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.
[0006] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for generating an assistance system for a driver of a motor vehicle by an assistance system of the motor vehicle, wherein a camera detects a viewing direction of the driver during a stop of the motor vehicle at a traffic light and depending on the detected viewing direction the alarm signal is generated by an electronic computing device of the assistance system.
[0007] In an embodiment, a traffic light changing signal is detected by the assistance system and depending on the detected viewing direction and depending on a predetermined time period before the light changes in the traffic light, the alarm signal is generated by the electronic computing device.
[0008] Therefore, if the driver is distracted and not paying attention to the road/traffic light, the assistance system alerts the driver via the alarm signal. This may drastically reduce driving distraction and prevent accidents.
[0009] In an embodiment, the traffic light changing signal is transmitted to the assistance system by the traffic light and/or by a traffic guidance system.
[0010] The traffic light changing signal is detected by a front camera of the assistance system in another embodiment.
[0011] In a further embodiment, the alarm signal is a hapfic signal at a steering wheel of the motor vehicle and/or at a seat of a motor vehicle.
[0012] In a still further embodiment, the alarm signal is generated if the camera detects that the driver is diverting the gaze from the road, on which the motor vehicle is located.
[0013] A further aspect of the invention relates to an assistance system for generating an alarm signal for a driver of a motor vehicle, the system comprising at least one camera and one electronic computing device, wherein the assistance system is configured to perform a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the assistance system.
[0014] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising the assistance system according to the preceding aspect.
[0015] Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the assistance system as well as of the motor vehicle. The assistance system and the motor vehicle therefore comprise means for performing the method.
[0016] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or method in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.
[0018] The drawings show in: [0019] Fig. 1 a schematic side view according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle comprising an embodiment of an assistance system; and [0020] Fig. 2 a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the method.
[0021] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
[0023] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0024] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by "comprises" or "comprise' does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.
[0025] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0026] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 with an embodiment of an assistance system 12. The assistance system 12 comprises at least one electronic computing device 14 and one camera 16. The assistance system 12 is configured for generating an alarm signal 18 for a driver 20 of the motor vehicle 10.
[0027] In an embodiment, the alarm signal 18 is generated, wherein the camera 16 detects a viewing direction 22 of the driver 20 during a stop of the motor vehicle at a traffic light 24 and depending on the detected viewing direction 22, the alarm signal 18 is generated by the electronic computing device 14 of the assistance system 12. A traffic light changing signal 26 is detected by the assistance system 12 and depending on the detected viewing direction 22 of the driver 20 and depending on a predetermined time period before the light changes in the traffic light 24, the alarm signal 18 is generated by the electronic computing device 14.
[0028] In an embodiment, the traffic light changing signal 26 is transmitted to the assistance system 12 by the traffic light 24 and/or by a traffic guidance system 28, for example via a mobile network and/or via V2X-communication. Alternatively or additionally, the traffic light changing signal 26 is detected by a front camera 30 of the assistance system 12.
[0029] In another embodiment, the alarm signal 18 is a haptic signal at a steering wheel 32 of the motor vehicle 10 and/or at a seat 34 of the motor vehicle 10. Furthermore, the alarm signal 18 may be an acoustic or visual signal.
[0030] In particular, the alarm signal 18 is generated if the camera 16 detects that the driver 20 is diverting the gaze from the road and/or the traffic light 24 towards any other directions.
[0031] As shown in Fig. 1, the motor vehicle 10 with the driver 20 is waiting at the traffic light 24, which shows in particular a red light 36. The assistance system 12 receives the information, for example, from the traffic guidance system 38, that the traffic light 24 will change to green in the next ten seconds, which may be for example the predetermined time period. Furthermore, the traffic light 24 may comprise a display, which shows the number of seconds remaining until the traffic light 24 will change from red light 36 to green. A red light countdown may also be detected by the front camera 30 and may be displayed on a display device of the motor vehicle 10, when the motor vehicle 10 is approaching the red light 36. At the same time, the camera 16, which may be configured as a gaze monitoring camera, detects the eye position of the driver 20 and sends these input to the electronic computing device 14. If the driver 20 directs the gaze at the windshield, in particular with a straight gaze on the road, the electronic computing device 14 determines that the driver 20 is looking at the road and is paying attention to the traffic light 24, and therefore no alarm signal 18 is generated.
[0032] If the gaze of the driver 20 is not directed straight towards the front and for example towards the windshield, but rather elsewhere, for instance downward or sideways, which is shown in Fig. 1, the electronic computing device 14 assumes that the driver 20 is distracted and not paying attention to the road, and the assistance system 12 alerts the driver 20 via for example either a vibration on the steering wheel 32 or vibration on the seat 34 and/or by a sound.
[0033] After implementing a setup at the traffic light 24 and learning from it, the assistance system 12 may be finetuned to also monitor the attention of the driver 20 while driving and if the driver 20 seems distracted continuously, for example, for a predetermined time period in seconds, the motor vehicle 10 alerts the driver 20 to make him focus on the road again.
[0034] Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the method.
[0035] In a first step Si, the motor vehicle 10 arrives at the traffic light 24. In a second step S2, the camera 16 is detecting the viewing direction 22 of the driver 20. If the driver 20 pays attention to the road or the traffic light 24, which is shown in a third step S3, no action is performed by the assistance system 12, which is shown in a fourth step S4. If the camera 16 determines that the driver 20 is distracted, which is shown in a fifth step S5, wherein, for example, the driver 20 is not looking towards the windshield, the method performs a sixth step S6, wherein, for example, ten seconds before the traffic light 24 turns green, a hapfic feedback is generated by using, for example, the steering wheel 32 or the seat 34, in a seventh step S7. Therefore, the traffic light changing signal 26 is transmitted in an eighth step S8. In a ninth step 59, the camera 16 may detect that the driver 20 is still distracted, wherein a tenth step S10 is provided, in which no action is performed by the assistance system 12, because, for example, other cars would honk and refocus the driver's attention. Otherwise, if the driver 20 looks at the road, which is shown in the eleventh step S11, the assistance system 12 will also perform the tenth step S10, in which no action is performed by the assistance system 12.
Reference Signs motor vehicle 12 assistance system 14 electronic computing device 16 camera 18 alarm signal driver 22 viewing direction 24 traffic light 26 traffic light changing signal 28 traffic guidance system front camera 32 steering wheel 34 seat 36 red light Si first step S2 second step 33 third step 34 fourth step fifth step 56 sixth step 57 seventh step 58 eighth step 59 ninth step 310 tenth step 311 eleventh step

Claims (6)

  1. CLAIMS1. A method for generating an alarm signal (18) for a driver (20) of a motor vehicle (10) by an assistance system (12) of the motor vehicle (10), wherein a camera (16) detects a viewing direction (22) of the driver (20) during a stop of the motor vehicle (10) at a traffic light (24) and depending on the detected viewing direction (22) of the driver (20) the alarm signal (18) is generated by an electronic computing device (14) of the assistance system (12), characterized in that a traffic light changing signal (26) is detected by the assistance system (12) and depending on the detected viewing direction (22) of the driver (20) and depending on a predetermined time period before the light changes in the traffic light (24) the alarm signal (18) is generated by the electronic computing device (14).
  2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the traffic light changing signal (26) is transmitted to the assistance system (12) by the traffic light (24) and/or by a traffic guidance system (28).
  3. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the traffic light changing signal (26) is detected by a front camera (30) of the assistance system (12).
  4. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the alarm signal (18) is a haptic signal at a steering wheel (32) of the motor vehicle (10) and/or at a seat (34) of the motor vehicle (10).
  5. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the alarm signal (18) is generated if the camera (16) detects that the driver (20) is diverting the gaze from the road, on which the motor vehicle (10) is located.
  6. 6. An assistance system (12) for generating an alarm signal (18) for a driver (20) of a motor vehicle (10), the system comprising at least one camera (16) and one electronic computing device (14), wherein the assistance system (12) is configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
GB2101336.2A 2021-02-01 2021-02-01 A method for generating an alarm signal for a driver of a motor vehicle by an assistance system Withdrawn GB2603474A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2101336.2A GB2603474A (en) 2021-02-01 2021-02-01 A method for generating an alarm signal for a driver of a motor vehicle by an assistance system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2101336.2A GB2603474A (en) 2021-02-01 2021-02-01 A method for generating an alarm signal for a driver of a motor vehicle by an assistance system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB202101336D0 GB202101336D0 (en) 2021-03-17
GB2603474A true GB2603474A (en) 2022-08-10

Family

ID=74865468

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB2101336.2A Withdrawn GB2603474A (en) 2021-02-01 2021-02-01 A method for generating an alarm signal for a driver of a motor vehicle by an assistance system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2603474A (en)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2009003595A (en) * 2007-06-20 2009-01-08 Pioneer Electronic Corp Navigation unit, drive support unit, traffic signal state notification method and program, and drive support method and program
US20170124868A1 (en) * 2015-10-30 2017-05-04 International Business Machines Corporation Using automobile driver attention focus area to share traffic intersection status
US20170197617A1 (en) * 2012-04-22 2017-07-13 Angel A. Penilla Connected Vehicle Communication with Processing Alerts Related to Traffic Lights and Cloud Systems
US20170256167A1 (en) * 2016-03-03 2017-09-07 Lg Electronics Inc. Display apparatus and vehicle having the same
US20190139407A1 (en) * 2017-11-03 2019-05-09 Mindtronic Ai Co.,Ltd. Alerting system and method thereof
CN110322714A (en) * 2018-03-30 2019-10-11 比亚迪股份有限公司 Intelligent reminding system, method and vehicle based on vehicle-mounted display terminal
KR20200023671A (en) * 2018-08-14 2020-03-06 엘지전자 주식회사 Robot for vehicle mounted on the vehcile and method for controlling the robot for vehicle

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2009003595A (en) * 2007-06-20 2009-01-08 Pioneer Electronic Corp Navigation unit, drive support unit, traffic signal state notification method and program, and drive support method and program
US20170197617A1 (en) * 2012-04-22 2017-07-13 Angel A. Penilla Connected Vehicle Communication with Processing Alerts Related to Traffic Lights and Cloud Systems
US20170124868A1 (en) * 2015-10-30 2017-05-04 International Business Machines Corporation Using automobile driver attention focus area to share traffic intersection status
US20170256167A1 (en) * 2016-03-03 2017-09-07 Lg Electronics Inc. Display apparatus and vehicle having the same
US20190139407A1 (en) * 2017-11-03 2019-05-09 Mindtronic Ai Co.,Ltd. Alerting system and method thereof
CN110322714A (en) * 2018-03-30 2019-10-11 比亚迪股份有限公司 Intelligent reminding system, method and vehicle based on vehicle-mounted display terminal
KR20200023671A (en) * 2018-08-14 2020-03-06 엘지전자 주식회사 Robot for vehicle mounted on the vehcile and method for controlling the robot for vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB202101336D0 (en) 2021-03-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6906619B2 (en) Visual attention influenced condition indicia apparatus and method
JP4650349B2 (en) Vehicle display system
JP6084598B2 (en) Sign information display system and sign information display method
JP5282816B2 (en) Driving support system
US20090051516A1 (en) Assistance System for Assisting a Driver
JP2011113385A (en) Information presentation apparatus
EP3095660A2 (en) A method and system for increasing driver awareness by modifying the frequency of a visual system
US20050143884A1 (en) Information system in a motor vehicle with driving-style-dependent production of information to be outputted
KR20190022759A (en) Control method and control device of automatic driving vehicle
EP3339079A1 (en) Vehicular display device and display method in vehicular display device
DE102015201456A1 (en) Method and system for issuing a warning message in a vehicle
US11148682B2 (en) Steering assistance systems and methods
US10930148B2 (en) Method and device for reminding a driver about an approach to a light signal apparatus
US20080243326A1 (en) Information Output System for a Vehicle and Associated Information Output Method
GB2603474A (en) A method for generating an alarm signal for a driver of a motor vehicle by an assistance system
JP2016224553A (en) Traffic information display system for vehicle
US10363871B2 (en) Vehicle notification apparatus
JP2001101595A (en) On-vehicle information providing device for assisting traveling
Souman et al. Human factors guidelines report 2: driver support systems overview
US11900698B2 (en) Information processing device and information processing method
CN107985306A (en) Driver assistance system
EP2463172B1 (en) Safety system for a vehicle and a method for a safety system
US20240177602A1 (en) In-vehicle information processing device
EP4239598A1 (en) Method for determining an attentiveness of a driver of an automated vehicle
WO2016120948A1 (en) Information output device for mobile body

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)