JPH08268287A - Arousal degree drop warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To secure the extent of safety in time of vehicle traveling by operating an automatic steering actuator of an automatic steering means and selecting it to automatic steerage in the case where something wrong with the arousal degree of a driver is judged by an arousal degree judging means, and imparting a warning vibration to the steering means as long as the specified time. CONSTITUTION: During car driving, a heart rate is detected by two infrared type heartbeat sensors 2, 3 and a potential type heartbeat sensor 7, and anything unusual in an arousal degree and a degree of tenseness of a driver are judged by a heartheat arousal degree judging means 10. In addition, a parameter of steering elements is calculated from the output of a steering angle sensor 11, and from the calculated result, something wrong with the arousal degree of the driver is judged by a steering arousal degree judging means 13. In the case of judging the arousal degree abnormality, an automatic steerage operating means 21 is operated by a warning controller 19, and steering control is selected to an automatic steering mode. In succession, an acoustic sense warning means 18 is operated, while a tactile sense warning means 17 is operated, through which a vibration is imparted to a steering wheel by a vibro-input means, awakening the driver.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wakefulness reduction warning device for warning a driver of a low wakefulness, which stabilizes the behavior of a vehicle when the wakefulness becomes normal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a vehicle is continuously driven for a long time without any break, the driver's fatigue accumulates, his health deteriorates, and his concentration deteriorates. Therefore, conventionally, there has been proposed a device that detects the degree of awakening of a driver and issues various alarms for the purpose of, for example, preventing drowsy driving. These devices are designed to detect a decrease in arousal level based on the characteristics of the steering pattern by the driver and changes in heart rate and skin potential.

In a device for detecting the awakening degree based on the characteristics of the steering pattern, when the awakening degree is lowered, the driver's steering operation is reduced and the operation becomes coarse, and a minute steering correction tends not to be performed. I'm taking advantage of that. For example, the deviation frequency of the steering angle of the steering wheel with respect to a predetermined detection angle is detected, and the frequency is compared with the expected frequency under normal conditions to determine whether or not the driver is driving at a normal awakening level (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 52- No. 25336). Further, in the device that detects the arousal level based on changes in the heart rate and the skin potential, the fact that the heart rate and the skin potential are lower during sleep than when awake is used,
It is judged whether or not the driver is driving at a normal arousal level by comparing with the state of the heart rate and the skin potential under normal conditions (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-25
No. 0221).

[0004]

In the conventional device for detecting the arousal level, the driver can be warned of the dozing state by an alarm or the like when the awakening level is detected and the awakening level is low. Therefore, even when the awakening level is low, the awakening level is increased to maintain a normal driving state. However, if an alarm or the like is received in a state where the wakefulness is low, the wakefulness of the driver increases, but the driver may be tense for a moment and perform unstable steering. When unstable steering is performed for a moment due to tension, the behavior of the vehicle becomes temporarily unstable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wakefulness decrease warning device that warns of a decrease in wakefulness and does not destabilize the behavior of a vehicle.

[0006]

A first aspect of the invention for achieving the above object comprises a steering operation means for steering a steering wheel of a vehicle by an operation of a driver, the steering operation means and the steering wheel. An automatic steering means having an automatic steering actuator for steering the steered wheels regardless of the operation of the steering operation means provided in a steering transmission system between the two, and an index of awakening degree and an index of tension of a driver during traveling. Arousal level determining means for determining abnormality of arousal level and normality of tension level, vibration inputting means for giving a warning vibration within the range that does not affect the behavior of the vehicle to the steering operating means, and the arousal level determining means When the abnormality of the awakening degree is determined by the above, the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is actuated, and the warning vibration is given to the steering operation means for a predetermined time by the vibration input means. Further, after the warning vibration is applied to the steering operation means, the operation of the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is released when the awakening degree determination means determines that the degree of tension is normal. And a control device that enables steering by the operating means.

The configuration of the second invention for achieving the above object is to provide a steering operation means for steering a steering wheel of a vehicle by an operation of a driver, and a steering between the steering operation means and the steering wheel. An automatic steering means having an automatic steering actuator which is provided in a transmission system and steers the steered wheels regardless of the operation of the steering operation means, and an awakening degree by obtaining an index of awakening degree and an index of a tension degree of a driver during traveling. Of abnormalities and normality of tension, vibration input means for giving the steering operation means a vibration for warning within a range that does not affect the behavior of the vehicle, and various warnings to the driver by sound. The alarm means for giving an alarm and the awakening degree determining means activates the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means when the awakening degree abnormality is determined, and the vibration inputting means is used. A warning vibration is given to the steering operation means for a predetermined time, and at the same time, the alarm means informs the driver of an abnormality in the awakening degree. Further, after the warning vibration is given to the steering operation means, the awakening degree determination means causes tension. When it is determined that the degree is normal, the operation of the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is released to enable the steering by the steering operation means, and at the same time, the operation of the automatic steering actuator is released. And a control device for notifying the driver by an alarm means.

The control device has a function of turning on a hazard lamp when the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is actuated due to an abnormality in the awakening degree, and an abnormality in the awakening degree is determined over a predetermined time. It is characterized by having a function of forcibly stopping the vehicle when the normality of the degree of tension is not judged for a predetermined period of time or for a predetermined period of time.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the awakening degree determining means determines that the awakening degree of the driver is abnormal, the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is operated to switch to the automatic steering, and the steering is performed by the vibration input means. Vibration for warning is given to the steering means for a predetermined time. After that, when the awakening degree determination means determines that the driver's tension is normal, the automatic steering is released and the steering by the steering steering means is enabled.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the awakening degree determining means determines that the driver's awakening degree is abnormal, the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is operated to switch to the automatic steering, and the vibration input means is used for steering. Vibration for warning is given to the steering means for a predetermined time. At this time, at the same time, the alarm means notifies the driver of the abnormal awakening degree. Thereafter, when the awakening degree determination means determines that the driver's tension is normal, the automatic steering is released to enable steering by the steering means, and the alarm means indicates that the automatic steering has been released. The driver is informed.

The hazard lamp is turned on when the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is operated due to the abnormality in the arousal level, and when the abnormality in the arousal level continues to be determined for a predetermined time or over the predetermined time. When the normality of the tension is not determined, the vehicle is forcibly stopped.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control unit of a wakefulness decrease warning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a steering of the wakefulness decrease warning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a driver's seat of a vehicle equipped with a low alertness warning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the control device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a steering wheel 1 as a steering operation means is provided with a pair of left and right infrared type heartbeat sensors 2 and 3 for detecting a heartbeat pulse of the driver. Heartbeat processing means 4 and 5 are connected to 3. The heartbeat processing means 4 and 5 receive the detection signals from the infrared type heartbeat sensors 2 and 3 and calculate the heartbeat rate of the driver. The heartbeat processing means 4 and 5 are connected to the signal selecting means 6 which adopts a more preferable output signal among the output signals. An electric potential type heartbeat sensor 7 is provided on the steering wheel 1, and a heartbeat processing means 8 is connected to the electric potential type heartbeat sensor 7. The heartbeat processing means 8 receives the signal from the electric potential type heartbeat sensor 7 to calculate the heartbeat of the driver. The signal selection means 6 and the heartbeat processing means 8 are connected to a heartbeat data processing means 9 for calculating an average value and a change state of the heartbeat based on the output signal, and the calculation result of the heartbeat data processing means 9, that is, the heartbeat rate A heartbeat / wakefulness determination means 10 for determining abnormality of the driver's awakening degree or normal tension level based on an average value and a change state (awakening degree index, tension level index) is connected to the heartbeat data processing means 9. There is.

On the other hand, the steering angle sensor 11 for detecting the deviation (steering angle) from the neutral position of the steering shaft includes the steering angle sensor 1
The steering angle data processing means 12 for calculating the parameter of the steering component subjected to the frequency analysis by receiving the detection signal from 1 is connected. The steering angle data processing means 12 is connected to a steering awakening degree determination means 13 for determining an abnormality in the awakening degree of the driver based on the calculation result (index of the awakening degree) from the steering angle data processing means 12. Further, the steering angle data processing means 12 is connected to a vehicle speed sensor 14 for detecting a traveling speed (vehicle speed) of the vehicle, and a detection signal from the vehicle speed sensor 14 is taken into the steering angle data processing means 12. .

In the vehicle, a visual alarm means 16 for transparently displaying a drowsiness alarm on the front window 15 and a vibration input means for giving the drowsiness alarm to the steering wheel 1 as a warning vibration within a range that does not affect the behavior of the vehicle ( A tactile alarm means 17 for operating (described later) and an auditory alarm means 18 as an alarm means for giving a drowsiness alarm and various alarms to the driver by sound or voice are provided. A warning control device 19 as a control device is connected to the heartbeat / wakefulness determination means 10 and the steering / wakefulness determination means 13, and the alarm level and the driver's warning level selected by the heartbeat / wakefulness determination means 10 and the steering / wakefulness determination means 13 are selected. Data such as the arousal level and the tension level are output to the warning control device 19. Warning control device 19
Is a heartbeat alertness determination means 10 and a steering alertness determination means 13
Tactile alarm means 17 based on the alarm level selected in
The operation of the visual alarm means 16 and the audible alarm means 18 is controlled. Further, the warning control device 19 controls the hazard lamp lighting means 20, the automatic steering operation means 21, and the automatic brake operation means 22 based on the alarm level and the driver's arousal level and tension level. Each of the above means except the sensor is E
It is provided in the CU 23.

Next, the vibration input means operated by the tactile alarm means 17 and the automatic steering mechanism operated by the automatic steering actuating means 21 based on the steering system shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The vibration input means 24 uses a hydraulic power steering mechanism 26 having an automatic steering mechanism 25.

First, the hydraulic power steering mechanism 26
Will be explained. The hydraulic power steering mechanism 26 includes a hydraulic cylinder 28 that applies an assisting force to a rack-and-pinion mechanism 27 that interlocks with the steering wheel 1. The hydraulic cylinder 28 receives hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump 30 via a power steering valve 29. It is supposed to be guided. The automatic steering mechanism 25 uses a hydraulic cylinder 28 to apply an automatic steering force to the rack and pinion mechanism 27. Hydraulic pump 30 and power steering valve 29
A hydraulic pressure source switching valve 31 is provided in an oil passage between the hydraulic pressure source switching valve 31 and the hydraulic cylinder 28, and an automatic steering angle control valve 32 and a mode switching valve 33 are provided in an oil passage between the hydraulic pressure source switching valve 31 and the hydraulic cylinder 28 from the upstream side. Is provided. Further, the automatic steering angle control valve 32 is provided with an automatic steering force control valve 34.

The hydraulic power source switching valve 31 supplies the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump 30 to the power steering valve 29, and the automatic steering force control valve 34 on the automatic steering mechanism 25 side with the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump 30. The flow path is switched to the automatic steering mode for guiding. The automatic steering angle control valve 32 is a valve that sets the direction of automatic steering to either left or right, and has a left steering mode (automatic mode) that guides oil from the hydraulic pressure source switching valve 31 to the left hydraulic chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 28. A hydraulic source switching valve 3 is provided in the right hydraulic chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 28.
The flow path is switched between a right steering mode (automatic mode) for guiding oil from No. 1 and an automatic steering stop mode for removing operating hydraulic pressure in the left and right hydraulic chambers. Further, the automatic steering force control valve 34 is a pressure valve that controls the automatic steering force by adjusting the pressure of the hydraulic oil guided from the hydraulic power source switching valve 31 to the automatic steering angle control valve 32, and the power supplied to the solenoid is controlled. Is adjusted to adjust the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil output to the automatic steering angle control valve 32. Furthermore, the mode switching valve 33
Is a power steering mode that guides the hydraulic oil from the power steering valve 29 to the hydraulic cylinder 28 and an automatic steering mode that guides the hydraulic oil from the automatic steering force control valve 34 on the automatic steering mechanism 25 side to the hydraulic cylinder 28. To switch.

The vibration input means 24 will be described. The automatic steering angle control valve 32 is adapted to be subjected to processing (dither processing) for adding a high-frequency minute signal to the command signal, and the vibration for warning given to the steering wheel 1 is input by this dither processing. The signal is being used. This dithering process is a process for slightly oscillating the spool of the automatic steering angle control valve 32 so that the spool does not stop, thereby avoiding a phenomenon such as friction or sticking of the spool and improving the operation responsiveness.
Since the signal level (amplitude) in dithering is usually low, the driver cannot detect vibration through the steering wheel 1, but raising the signal level (amplitude) in dithering affects the behavior of the vehicle. The vibration can be detected by the driver through the steering wheel 1 in the absence. That is, when the ECU 23 outputs an operation signal to the tactile alarm means 17, the vibration input means 24 sets the signal level of the dither processing according to the alarm level at this time, and the automatic steering angle control valve 32 is controlled to control the steering wheel. The driver senses the vibration through 1.

In the steering control by the ECU 23, it is determined whether or not the automatic steering is necessary, based on the traveling state of the vehicle, the traveling environment of the vehicle, the steering state of the driver, the state of awakening degree, and the like. If automatic steering is required, the hydraulic source switching valve 31 and the mode switching valve 33 are switched to the automatic steering mode, and the automatic steering force control valve 34 is controlled according to the set automatic steering force. Then, the automatic steering angle control valve 32 is controlled so that a desired steering angle can be obtained while performing feedback based on information from the displacement sensor 35 that detects the position of the rack and pinion mechanism 27. If automatic steering is not necessary, the power supply to the hydraulic power source switching valve 31 and the mode switching valve 33 is cut off to return to the power steering mode, and the power supplied to the automatic steering force control valve 34 is also cut off. Return to steering stop mode. The dither process is performed only in the automatic steering mode. Therefore, when the power steering mode is set, the dither process is temporarily switched to the automatic steering mode and the vibration input means 24 causes the steering wheel 1 to vibrate.

Next, the processing flow of the alertness lowering warning device by the hydraulic power steering mechanism 26 having the above-mentioned automatic steering mechanism 25 will be described with reference to FIG. Normal,
The steering control is performed in the power steering mode. During driving, the heart rate is detected by the infrared type heart rate sensors 2 and 3 and the potential type heart rate sensor 7, and the heart rate awakening degree determination means is based on the average value and change state of the heart rate (index of arousal level, index of tension). The abnormality of the driver's awakening degree and the normality of the tension degree are determined by 10. Also,
While the vehicle is traveling, the steering angle sensor 11 detects the steering state to calculate the parameter of the steering component, and the steering awakening degree determination means 13 determines the abnormality of the awakening degree of the driver from the calculation result.

As shown in FIG. 4, the timers T1 and T2 are reset in step S1, and the abnormality of the awakening degree by the heartbeat awakening degree determining means 10 and the steering awakening degree determining means 13 is determined in a step S2. When the awakening level is normal, the steering control is continued as it is, and when it is determined that the awakening level is abnormal, the steering control is switched to the automatic steering mode by the operation of the automatic steering mode 21 in step S3, and the hazard lamp is activated. The hazard lamp is turned on by the operation of the lighting means 16.

Next, in step S4, the audible warning means 18 is activated to give a voice warning to the driver, and the tactile warning means 17 is activated to vibrate the vibration input means 24.
Then, the steering wheel 1 is vibrated for 3 seconds so that the driver senses the vibration. After issuing the voice warning and the vibration warning, it is determined in step S5 whether or not the awakening level is normal (whether or not the person has awakened), that is, whether or not the driver notices the voice warning and the vibration warning. If it is determined in step S5 that the awakening level is not normal (not awakened), 1 is added to the timer T1 in step S6 and the timer T is set in step S7.
The process of returning to step S4 is repeated until 1 becomes 3.
When it is determined that the timer T1 is 3 in step S7, that is, when the driver does not notice the voice warning and the vibration warning for a predetermined time and continues to determine the abnormality of the awakening degree,
At step S8, the automatic brake is operated by the operation of the automatic brake operating means 22 to forcibly stop the vehicle.

When it is determined in step S5 that the arousal level is normal, the driver is warned by the operation of the hearing warning means 18 in step S9, the process proceeds to step S10, and in step S10. The normality of the degree of tension is judged by the heartbeat / wakefulness judging means 10. If it is determined in step S10 that the degree of tension is not normal, that is, it is determined that the vibration alarm is noticeable but the heart rate is abnormally high, then step S11 is performed.
Then, 1 is added to the timer T2, and the process of returning to step S9 is repeated until the timer T2 becomes 3 in step S12. If it is determined in step S12 that the timer T2 is 3, that is, if the driver's tension does not subside and the normality of the tension is not determined even after a predetermined time, the automatic brake actuation means 22 of the automatic brake operating means 22 is determined. When activated, the automatic brake is activated to forcibly stop the vehicle.

When it is determined in step S10 that the degree of tension is normal, that is, when it is determined that the vibration alarm is noticed and calmed down, the driver is automatically notified by the operation of the hearing alarm means 18 in step S13. A warning that the steering mode is released is issued, the steering control is returned to the power steering mode, and normal steering control is performed.

As described above, in the above-described alertness reduction warning device, when the heartbeat alertness determination means 10 and the steering alertness determination means 13 determine that the driver's alertness is abnormal,
The hydraulic cylinder 28 as the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering actuating means 21 is switched to the automatic steering in which the automatic steering is operated, and the vibration inputting means 24 gives the steering wheel 1 a vibration for warning for 3 seconds and a voice alarm. Informs the driver that he is dozing. Then, after the driver notices the vibration by the vibration input means 24 and becomes calm, the automatic steering is released to enable the driver to steer. Therefore, even if the driver is tense for a moment due to the vibration of the steering wheel 1, the automatic steering is not continued until the driver calms down and unstable steering is not performed.

In the above embodiment, the heartbeat arousal level determining means 10 and the steering awakening level determining means 13 are used as means for detecting the awakening level, but the skin temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, etc. are detected. It is also possible to use other means such as directly detecting a blinking or blinking state to detect the arousal level, and the determination of the degree of tension is not limited to the one using the heartbeat arousal level determining means 10, and the skin temperature or It is also possible to use means for detecting blood pressure, pulse, etc. Further, as the vibration input means 24, a hydraulic power steering mechanism 26 having an automatic steering mechanism 25 is used, and vibration is generated in the steering wheel 1 for warning by raising the level of dither processing. In the case of a steering system that does not perform processing, high frequency vibration corresponding to high level dither may be newly applied to the steering wheel 1.
Further, the automatic steering mechanism 25 is not limited to the one described above, and an automatic steering mechanism using an electric actuator or the like can be applied. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made of the case where the voice alarm and the automatic brake are controlled, but the voice alarm and the automatic brake may not be necessarily controlled.

[0028]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the awakening degree determining means determines that the driver's awakening degree is abnormal, the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is activated to switch to automatic steering. Then, vibration for warning is given to the steering steering means for a predetermined time by the vibration input means, and thereafter, when the awakening degree determination means determines that the degree of tension is normal, the automatic steering is released and the steering steering means operates. Since the steering is enabled, even if the driver is tense for a moment due to the warning vibration of the steering steering means, the automatic steering is not continued until the driver calms down and unstable steering is not performed. As a result, the behavior of the vehicle does not become unstable, it is possible to continue traveling without feeling discomfort, and safety is improved.

In the alertness lowering warning device of the second invention, when the awakening degree determining means determines that the driver's awakening degree is abnormal, the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is operated to switch to the automatic steering, The vibration inputting means applies a warning vibration to the steering means for a predetermined time, and at the same time, the alarming means informs the driver of an abnormality in the awakening degree, and thereafter, the awakening degree determining means determines that the degree of tension is normal. In this case, the automatic steering is released when the steering is performed to enable the steering by the steering means and the warning means is used to notify the driver that the automatic steering is released. Even if the driver is tense for a moment, the meaning of the vibration can be recognized and the automatic steering is continued until the driver calms down and unstable steering is performed. There is no, the driver makes it possible to accurately determine is can the situation be aware of the cancellation of the automatic steering. As a result, the behavior of the vehicle does not become unstable, it is possible to continue traveling without feeling discomfort, and safety is improved.

Further, the function of turning on the hazard lamp when the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is operated due to the abnormality of the awakening degree, and the time when the abnormality of the awakening degree is continuously judged for a predetermined time Since it has a function to forcibly stop the vehicle when the normality of the degree of tension is not exceeded, it is possible to notify other vehicles etc. of the abnormality of the awakening degree, and the abnormality of the awakening degree The vehicle does not continue to run when it continues or when the driver is nervous.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control unit of a wakefulness reduction warning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the steering system of the alertness reduction warning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a driver's seat of a vehicle equipped with the alertness reduction warning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 2,3 Infrared type heartbeat sensor 4,5 Heartbeat processing means 7 Potential type heartbeat sensor 8 Heartbeat processing means 10 Heartbeat alertness determination means 11 Steering angle sensor 12 Steering angle data processing means 13 Steering angle alertness determination means 17 Tactile sense Warning means 18 Auditory warning means 19 Warning control device 20 Hazard lamp lighting means 21 Automatic steering actuation means 22 Automatic brake actuation means 23 ECU 24 Vibration input means 25 Automatic steering mechanism 26 Hydraulic power steering mechanism 27 Rack and pinion mechanism 28 Hydraulic cylinder 30 Hydraulic pump 31 Hydraulic switching valve 32 Automatic steering angle control valve 33 Mode switching valve 34 Automatic steering force control valve

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Norio Inoue 5-3-8 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (72) Inventor Tetsushi Omuro 5-3-8 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Automotive Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A steering operation means for steering a steered wheel of a vehicle by a driver's operation, and a steering transmission system provided between the steering operation means and the steered wheel, regardless of the operation of the steering operation means. An automatic steering means having an automatic steering actuator for steering the steered wheels, and an awakening degree determining means for determining an index of the awakening degree and an index of the degree of tension of a traveling driver to determine whether the abnormality of the awakening degree and the normality of the degree of tension are normal. A vibration input means for providing the steering operation means with a vibration for warning within a range that does not affect the behavior of the vehicle; and the automatic steering of the automatic steering means when the awakening degree abnormality is determined by the awakening degree determination means. After the actuator is operated and the vibration input means applies a warning vibration to the steering operation means for a predetermined time, and further applies a warning vibration to the steering operation means, the awakening degree determination is performed. A control device that releases the operation of the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means when the tension degree is determined to be normal by the means and enables steering by the steering operation means. Low alertness warning device. 2. A steering operation means for steering a steered wheel of a vehicle by a driver's operation, and a steering transmission system provided between the steering operation means and the steered wheel, regardless of the operation of the steering operation means. An automatic steering means having an automatic steering actuator for steering the steered wheels; and an awakening degree judging means for determining an index of the awakening degree and an index of the degree of tension of a driver who is running to judge whether the abnormality of the awakening degree and the degree of tension are normal. Vibration input means for giving the steering operation means a vibration for warning within a range that does not affect the behavior of the vehicle, warning means for giving various warnings to the driver by sound, and abnormality of the awakening degree by the awakening degree determination means. When it is determined that the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is actuated and the vibration input means applies a warning vibration to the steering operation means for a predetermined time. At the time, the alarm means informs the driver of the abnormality of the awakening degree, and further, when the awakening degree determining means determines that the degree of tension is normal after applying the warning vibration to the steering operation means, A control device that releases the operation of the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means to enable steering by the steering operation means and at the same time informs the driver by the alarm means that the operation of the automatic steering actuator has been released. An alertness reduction alert device characterized by being provided. 3. The control device has a function of turning on a hazard lamp when the automatic steering actuator of the automatic steering means is actuated due to an abnormality in the awakening degree, and an abnormality in the awakening degree is determined over a predetermined time. 3. The alertness reduction warning according to claim 2, further comprising a function of forcibly stopping the vehicle when the normality of the tension is not determined for a predetermined period of time or when the normality is exceeded. apparatus.