U.S. patent application number 14/811414 was filed with the patent office on 2017-02-02 for method for calculating a response time.
This patent application is currently assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. Invention is credited to Gerald SCHMIDT, Thomas SCHRAMM.
Application Number | 20170032200 14/811414 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55065217 |
Filed Date | 2017-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170032200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHMIDT; Gerald ; et
al. |
February 2, 2017 |
METHOD FOR CALCULATING A RESPONSE TIME
Abstract
A method for calculating a response time is described. The
response time is required in order to direct the attention of a
vehicle's driver at the traffic on the road. The driver is
monitored by sensors and a state of attentiveness of the driver is
ascertained. The state of attentiveness is used to calculate a
value, to which an anticipated response time is assigned. Further a
method for operating a motor vehicle, a computer program product
and a correspondingly equipped motor vehicle are described.
Inventors: |
SCHMIDT; Gerald; (Frankfurt
am Main, DE) ; SCHRAMM; Thomas; (Mainz, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC |
Detroit |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS
LLC
Detroit
MI
|
Family ID: |
55065217 |
Appl. No.: |
14/811414 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60W 2040/0818 20130101;
B60Q 9/00 20130101; G05D 1/0061 20130101; B60W 2540/221 20200201;
G06K 9/00845 20130101; G08B 21/06 20130101; B60W 40/08
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06K 9/00 20060101
G06K009/00; G05D 1/00 20060101 G05D001/00; B60Q 9/00 20060101
B60Q009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 28, 2015 |
DE |
102014011264.0 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A method for calculating a response time required to direct the
attention of a driver of a vehicle at a situation on the road, the
vehicle including at least one computing unit, the method
comprising: monitoring the driver with at least one sensor to
determine at least one driver characteristic data; communicating
the at least one driver characteristic data from the at least one
sensor to the computing unit; ascertaining within the computing
unit a state of attentiveness of the driver based on the at least
one driver characteristic data; calculating within the computing
unit at least one value based on the state of attentiveness; and
assigning a response time to the driver based on the at least one
valve.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein monitoring of the
driver is carried out at a regular interval.
18. The method according to claim 16, wherein monitoring of the
driver is continuously carried out over at an interval.
19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the driver
characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a tiredness
state, a direction of attention and a gesture state.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the driver
characteristic comprises the tiredness state determined from one or
more of the following: the driver's eyes, the position of the
driver's head and the angle of the driver's head.
21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the driver
characteristic comprises the gesture state determined by from an
accumulated hand-arm travel of the driver.
22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the state of
attentiveness includes a plurality of classifications, each having
a value assigned thereto, and wherein several aspects of the state
of attentiveness are ascertained and a value is determined for each
aspect.
23. The method according to claim 16, wherein a response time is
assigned to the one or more values in a table, wherein the response
time in the table is determined by way of the value.
24. The method according to claim 16, further comprising accounting
for at least one vehicle aspect when assigning the response
time.
25. A method for operating a motor vehicle, wherein the method is
carried out according to claim 16.
26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the motor vehicle
drives in an autonomous manner.
27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising
ascertaining a traffic situation, and signaling a take-over request
to the driver as result of the method according to claim 16.
28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising adapting
the take-over request to match the state of attentiveness of the
driver in terms of time and quality.
29. A computer program product with a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium having commands embedded therein
which when executed on a computing unit cause monitoring of a
driver of a vehicle with at least one sensor to determine at least
one driver characteristic data; communicating the at least one
driver characteristic data from the at least one sensor to the
computing unit within the vehicle; ascertaining within the
computing unit a state of attentiveness of the driver based on the
at least one driver characteristic data; calculating within the
computing unit at least one value based on the state of
attentiveness; and assigning a response time to the driver based on
the at least one value.
30. A motor vehicle comprising a sensor array monitoring the
attentiveness of a driver of the vehicle, wherein the motor
vehicle, and a storage medium operably coupled with a computer
program product executable on a computing unit within the vehicle
to cause, monitoring of the driver of the vehicle with the sensor
array to determine at least one driver characteristic data;
communicating the at least one driver characteristic data from the
sensor array to the computing unit; ascertaining within the
computing unit a state of attentiveness of the driver based on the
at least one driver characteristic data; calculating within the
computing unit at least one value based on the state of
attentiveness; and assigning a response time to the driver based on
the at least one value.
31. The motor vehicle according to claim 30, wherein the sensor
array includes at least one sensor is selected from the group
consisting of a camera, a stereo camera, an ultrasound sensor, an
infrared sensor or a combination thereof.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to German Patent
Application No 102014011264.0, filed Jul. 28, 2014, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure pertains to a method for calculating
a time for drawing the attention of a motor vehicle driver to
traffic on the road, also known as a response time, so that the
driver may be alerted to traffic situations and can react as
necessary.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is known that long drives in a motor car are tiring. Over
time a driver's concentration level drops. A decline in
concentration may lead to potentially hazardous traffic situations
not being recognized or judged correctly. Also traffic situations
may be misinterpreted leading to the wrong reaction as regards car
control.
[0004] Fatigue warning systems are known from the art, which assess
the alertness of a driver using a variety of criteria. Among others
it is known to detect and electronically evaluate eye, pupil and/or
eyelid movements of the driver by means of cameras, and on this
basis to draw conclusions as to the driver's state of alertness. A
warning can then be emitted in the form of an acoustic signal, a
graphical display or vibration of a vehicle interface e.g. the
steering wheel.
[0005] Furthermore, modern vehicles are frequently equipped with
driver assistance systems. Such driver assistance systems may, for
example, include an automatic longitudinal speed regulation,
frequently called adaptive cruise control, which is capable of
automatically maintaining the distance to the preceding motor
vehicle. To this end, the assistance system may interact
alternately with the accelerator and the brake. Also lane assist
systems are frequently installed in current motor vehicles. Lane
assistance systems prevent the vehicle from inadvertently leaving
the lane by interfering with the steering mechanism. These systems
too are contributors to safety.
[0006] The afore-mentioned systems ease the burden on the driver,
but may contribute to the driver not maintaining his situational
awareness of the current traffic conditions on the road.
[0007] For some time now work has been going on to develop motor
vehicles which are operated completely automatically. Such motor
vehicles are intended to drive from a current location of the motor
vehicle to a target location without any intervention on the part
of the driver, wherein dangerous situations are automatically
detected.
[0008] It is, however, feasible that for safety reasons in extreme
situations, control of the motor vehicle is to be handed over to
the driver. It is also feasible that automatic driving could be
restricted to certain zones and would not be permitted outside
these zones. In urban regions, for example, where the number of
road users of all categories is high including motor vehicle
drivers, cyclists, pedestrians etc., automatic driving could be
prohibited. Then it must be ensured that even with motor vehicles
equipped with such automatic systems, drivers must always be in
control in such zones.
[0009] During times in which the vehicle drives autonomously, the
driver of the motor vehicle may occupy himself with other things.
For example, a driver might read, listen to music, watch a film or
make a telephone call. While such activities are going on, the
driver might not pay attention to what is happening on the road.
If, however, the driver has to assume control of the motor vehicle,
for example when the driver is approaching a self-drive zone or is
about to enter a potentially hazardous situation, he or she must be
alerted to this fact. Depending on the current activity of the
driver, it may take a certain amount of time until he or she has
concentrated attention on the traffic and becomes aware of the
situation before he or she can take over control of the motor
vehicle. Therefore, a warning must be issued in advance in good
time.
SUMMARY
[0010] In accordance with the present disclosure, a method is
provided which issues a message to a driver in good time allowing
him to react and take over control of the motor vehicle. The method
described herein may be used for calculating a response time. The
response time is the time which is required in order to draw the
motor vehicle driver's attention to the traffic on the road so that
the driver becomes aware of the traffic situation and can react as
necessary.
[0011] The response time depends on the particular driver, and the
driver's state, e.g., wakefulness, as well as his or her current
activity. A tired driver who happens to be reading a book, may
require longer in becoming aware of the traffic situation and
taking over control of the motor vehicle than a wakeful driver who
is listening to music while looking at what is going on
outside.
[0012] In terms of the method described herein the driver is
monitored by sensors used to ascertain a state of attentiveness.
Having ascertained the driver's state of attentiveness, a value is
calculated, to which is then assigned an anticipated response time.
Instead of one value, several values can be calculated, to which an
anticipated response times is assigned.
[0013] A person's state of attentiveness can be estimated utilizing
his apparent behavior patterns. Relevant criteria for the state of
attentiveness, among others, are color of the face, blinking of the
eyes, short habitual glances, for example looking out of a side
window, gestures and/or hand movements. As soon as a person becomes
tired, these behavior patterns change. As such, additional
activities may occur such as rubbing of the face and eyes,
scratching, yawning, restless movements on the seat and such like.
When a person becomes very tired, eyelid closures periods equal to
or greater than 2 seconds become very common in the majority of
people. Often this is accompanied by rolling of the eyes in an
upward or downward direction. In some people there may be signs of
the eyes not coordinating properly. This may become evident when
people give the impression of squinting. Tired people as a rule are
also paler. A number of other outward signs come to mind, which
represent an expression of tiredness such as an attitude of the
body.
[0014] The driver's activity at the moment response is required,
also plays an important role, when calculating the response time. A
driver, who during automated driving is deeply buried in a book,
usually takes longer to become aware of a traffic situation than a
driver who is listening to music while simultaneously watching the
traffic.
[0015] The attentiveness of the driver can be detected via sensors
and conclusions can be drawn according to the described methods as
to how long it is expected to take the driver to respond and turn
his attention to the traffic on the road.
[0016] The response time ascertained with the aid of the described
methods may be used for different purposes. On the one hand further
measures to be taken by the motor vehicle may be made dependent on
the result of the calculation. As such in an extreme situation for
example, it may be determined that the response time until a
reaction occurs is too long, with the result that emergency braking
is initiated. On the other hand, the safest decision can be taken,
generally speaking, as long as the driver is no longer able to turn
his attention to the traffic on the road in good time.
[0017] In a first possible further development provision may be
made for the driver to be monitored regularly or continually. In
this way it is possible to monitor the anticipated response time,
and the change in anticipated response time, in dependence of the
driver's state at all times or at regular intervals. Based on the
change, a declining state of wakefulness of the driver can for
example be detected, and a timely interruption of the drive can be
initiated.
[0018] According to a development, ascertaining the driver's state
of attentiveness can be based on determining the driver's
tiredness, the direction which his attention takes (focus of
attention) and/or the driver's gestures. Determining the focus of
attention means that the driver's optical and/or mental spatial
focus is determined. His attention may be directed, for example, at
a book lying in his lap, at a control of the motor vehicle or at a
passenger. It may also be that the driver continues to keep his eye
on the traffic. Depending thereupon the period of time necessary to
become aware of the traffic situation may be of varying length, and
may be ascertained according to the method described here. A tired
driver has to wake up first before he becomes aware of the
situation, and this takes a certain amount of time. A period of
time for waking up may therefore be added to the response time,
e.g. two seconds for a slightly tired driver and five seconds for a
very tired driver.
[0019] In a further possible development the driver's tiredness may
be determined by means of his eyes, the position of his head and/or
the angle of his head. Since if the driver himself is in control,
there is no need for determining a driver's tiredness via tiny
movements of the steering wheel, rather it is more reliable to use
the eyes, head position and/or angle of the head for determination.
Eye detection may involve, for example, monitoring eye activity
and/or lid closure behavior. The position of the head may also be
used to draw conclusions as to the driver's tiredness. If the head
is lowered, this may be an indication of the driver feeling tired.
A head which is resting against the head rest may also be an
indication of tiredness. A head held upright on its own on the
other hand indicates wakefulness. Also the angle between head and
upper body may be an indication for wakefulness or tiredness of the
driver. A chin resting on the chest, for example, means the driver
is tired. And a head held at an angle to one side also allows the
conclusion that the driver is tired.
[0020] According to a further development of the method described
here the driver's gestures can be observed such as movements of the
hands and/or arms. Furthermore an accumulated hand-arm travel may
be determined it was found that an accumulated hand-arm travel can
be used for drawing conclusions as to the driver's state of
attentiveness and wakefulness.
[0021] In a possible development a determination may be made of the
direction of view and gestures, in particular an accumulated
hand-arm travel, or of a direction of view, tiredness and gestures,
in particular an accumulated hand-arm travel, in combination with
each other, respectively. This may be used to draw conclusions as
to the driver's focus of attention and his activity. A downward
look in connection with his hands held low (e.g. hands lying in the
lap) may indicate that the driver is reading a book lying in his
lap or that he is working with or on, some tool or implement lying
in his lap. Responding means that the driver must first stop paying
attention to his current activity (terminate his mental and spatial
focus of attention), which may last for a certain period of time.
Only one lowered hand in conjunction with a downwardly directed
look may, for example, mean that he is operating a mobile phone or
the like, which would usually be consistent with less deep
concentration with regards to the tool or implement. From gestures
in combination with the direction of view it can thus be predicted
with a certain amount of accuracy how long it will be, until a
driver will have recovered his awareness to the current
situation.
[0022] According to a further possible development of the method
provision is made for classifying the state of attentiveness of the
driver, wherein each class is assigned a value, wherein when
determining several aspects of the driver's attentiveness, a value
is determined for each observed aspect. As such a separate value
may be determined for the driver's state of the eyes, the position
of the head and/or the angle of the head, a separate value may be
determined for the direction of attention and/or for the driver's
gestures. The driver's behavior detected by the sensors can be
classified in each of the respective categories and a value may be
specified for each class of each aspect. Due to this respective
classification a resulting attentiveness can be ascertained as
regards each examined aspect. The values from the respective
categories may be compared with each other and contradicting
results may be compensated for, as required, so that reliability of
the method is increased. In addition certain criteria can be given
more weight than others, for example the driver's tiredness may be
given more weight than the direction of attention. All these
factors together lead to a more realistic estimate of the driver's
attentiveness. The response time can thus be more accurately
predicted.
[0023] In a further development of the method a table may be
provided, in which response times are assigned to the values. Such
a table may thus have more than two dimensions. Assignment of
response times in a table permits a quick determination of the
response time with only a small amount of calculation involved. In
addition tables may be easily exchanged. Updating them is therefore
quite simple.
[0024] According to a further development, vehicle aspects may be
taken into consideration when assigning the response time. As such
the vehicle infrastructure itself may require varying amounts of
response times. For example, it may be determined that a driver is
currently operating a navigation system which may a considerable
impact on the driver's focus of attention because operating a
navigation system certainly requires the driver's attention. The
operation of other vehicle controls also, for example the
multimedia system or the heating, may require the driver's
attention.
[0025] According to a further development response times may be
adapted in a driver individual manner. As such it is possible to
develop the method such that it becomes a self-teaching method and
to adapt response times to suit the driver as a function of his
concrete reactions. To this end driver detection may be
provided.
[0026] A first independent subject of the present disclosure
relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle. In terms of the
method the above-mentioned process is used during operation of the
motor vehicle. A motor vehicle operated in this way can permanently
calculate a necessary response times. A motor vehicle operated
according to the method can be operated safely if a necessary
response time of a driver of the vehicle can be taken into
consideration in further decision making.
[0027] According to a further refinement of the method for
operating the motor vehicle provision may be made for the vehicle
to drive itself in an automated manner. The automated operation of
the motor vehicle allows the driver to pay attention to matters
other than the traffic on the road. Nevertheless certain situations
may arise which make it necessary or desirable for the driver to
intervene. By calculating the response time this can be taken into
account of when planning the next steps.
[0028] According to a further development of the method a traffic
situation may be ascertained which will within a very short moment
demand the driver's attention, wherein depending on the result of
the method for calculating the response time, a signal will be sent
to the driver to take over control of the vehicle. Thus, the driver
can be warned within a sufficiently short time in order to grasp
the traffic situation facing him and to react accordingly. This
increases the operational safety of an automatically driven motor
vehicle.
[0029] According to a further aspect of the method the request to
take control can be adapted both in terms of time and quality to
match the driver's state of attentiveness. Thus, for example,
suitable signals for the request to take control can be selected
and utilized, such as optical and/or acoustic signals. With
acoustic signals it is possible to select loudness and type of
acoustic signal, for example, speech or a more abstract signal or a
warning signal. In addition, it is possible to vary the loudness of
an acoustic signal. Optical signals may for example appear in a
head-up display, which in addition may give an indication where the
danger might possibly be.
[0030] A further independent aspect relates to a computer program
product with a computer-readable storage medium, which has commands
embedded in it, which when executed on the computing unit, cause
the suitably adapted computing unit to execute a method of the
above-mentioned kind. This method may be the method for calculating
the response time or the method for operating a motor vehicle or
both.
[0031] A further independent aspect relates to a motor vehicle with
a sensor array used for monitoring the attentiveness of the
vehicle's driver, wherein the motor vehicle includes a storage
medium with a previously described computer product. A respective
motor vehicle permits, depending on the actual design, to use
monitoring for increasing safety in road traffic.
[0032] According to a further aspect of the motor vehicle, the
motor vehicle may include cameras, stereo cameras, ultrasound
sensors and/or infrared sensors for monitoring the driver's
attentiveness. The cameras may for example be directed at the
driver from the front. A camera may be arranged, for example, in an
A-column, in the roof lining or in a bracket of the rear-view
mirror. The use of stereo cameras makes it possible to ascertain
depth information in order to be able to better estimate a driver's
gestures and angle of head. Ultrasound sensors also permit depth
resolution of the driver's position. Infrared sensors can be used
as another means for gathering positional information on the skin
temperature of the driver or his blood circulation, in particular
in a dark environment such as in night driving, which means that
for example an examination of the driver's blood circulation in the
skin would, if reduced, point to increasing tiredness. Sensors may
also be used in combination, for example a stereo camera and
infrared sensors or two cameras arranged at different positions.
Two of these cameras could interact with each other possibly as
stereo cameras.
[0033] A further independent aspect relates to a device for
calculating a response time which is required to direct the
attention of a driver of a vehicle to the traffic on the road.
Sensors are provided for monitoring the driver, and a computing
unit is provided with the aid of which the driver's state of
attentiveness is ascertained. The computing unit calculates a value
which has an anticipated response time assigned to it. A further
development provides for the computing unit to be configured in
such a way that monitoring is carried out regularly or
continually.
[0034] A further aspect provides for means to be provided with
which the driver's tiredness, his direction of attention and/or
driver gestures can be determined. The means may be cameras, stereo
cameras, ultrasound sensors and/or infrared sensors or other
suitable sensors for monitoring the driver.
[0035] According to a further aspect means may be provided for
detecting the eyes, head position and/or angle of head of the
driver, which are then used by the computing unit for determining
the driver's tiredness.
[0036] According to an additional further aspect sensors may be
configured for ascertaining hand and/or arm travel or an
accumulated hand-arm travel, in a further arrangement information
on the driver's direction of view can be combined with the hand arm
travel.
[0037] According to an additional aspect the computing unit may be
adapted to classify the driver's state of attentiveness. The
computing unit is arranged to assign a value to each class. When
determining several aspects of the driver's attentiveness, the
computing unit may be arranged to assign a separate value to each
of the aspects. An additional aspect provides for a table to be
stored in the computing unit or in a memory of the computing unit,
in which a response time is assigned to the one or more values.
Using table look-up the response time can be determined on the
basis of the values. The expert term for such a table is in fact
"lookup-table." According to an additional aspect the computing
unit may be interlinked with other vehicle modules. In this way the
direction of attention of the driver can be ascertained by means of
this interlinking.
[0038] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a
motor vehicle with the above-described means. A motor vehicle
equipped in this way can calculate the response time of a driver.
According to a further development the motor vehicle may include
means for driving automatically. Such means may include sensors the
detecting road traffic. The means may further include a computing
unit. Furthermore control means may be provided for intervening
with steering, the engine and the brake. According to an additional
further aspect means for detecting the traffic situation as well as
a computing unit may be provided for calculating, on the basis of
the traffic situation, whether the driver's attention and his
intervention is required. The computing unit may issue a take-over
request to the driver. The above-described computing units may be
configured separately or may be combined to form one common
computing unit. The computing unit may be arranged to adapt the
take-over request to match the driver's state of attentiveness in
terms of time and quality.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in
conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like
numerals denote like elements.
[0040] FIG. 1 schematically shows a top view of a motor vehicle;
and
[0041] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of the method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] The Mowing detailed description is merely exemplary in
nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the
application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no
intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding
background of the invention or the following detailed
description.
[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a motor vehicle 2. A
driver 4 sits in the motor vehicle 2. The motor vehicle 2 is
equipped with a device 6 (surrounded by a broken line) which
monitors the state of attentiveness of the driver 4. The device 6
includes several components. In the area in front of the driver
cameras 8, 10 are arranged, which are directed at a driver's head
4.1. The camera 8 is configured as a stereo camera. The camera 8 is
attached to an A-column 2.1, and the camera 10 is attached to a
roof bracket 2.2. One of the cameras 8, 10 or both cameras may be
arranged to monitor eye movement and/or eyelid movements of the
driver 4.
[0044] The device 6 further includes a control 12. The control 12
is connected with the cameras 8, 110 and evaluates the camera
images accordingly. The driver's state of attentiveness can, as
described in detail with reference to FIG. 2, be thus ascertained
and a response time can be calculated. The control 12 includes a
memory 13 in which a computer program is stored for executing the
method described herein.
[0045] The motor vehicle 2 further includes sensors 14 which
monitor the current traffic. Using the sensors 14 the motor vehicle
2 can drive autonomously. The sensors 14 are coupled to the control
12. In alternative developments the sensors 14 can be coupled to a
separate control which in turn is coupled to the control 12. As
soon as a traffic situation is ascertained via the sensors 14,
which requires the driver's 4 attention, the response time needed
to draw the driver's attention to the traffic situation can be
calculated.
[0046] The control 12 may signal a take-over request to the driver
4. To this end the control 12 may be coupled to a loudspeaker 16.
The loudspeaker 16 may use an acoustic signal for signaling the
take-over request. The take-over request may be adapted to suit the
traffic situation and the state of attentiveness of driver 4.
[0047] The control 12 is further coupled to a navigation system 18.
Due to this coupling with the navigation system 18 it is possible
to ascertain, whether the driver 4, at the time of monitoring, is
operating the navigation system 18. This allows conclusions to be
drawn as to how long it will take to regain the attention of the
driver 4 for the traffic on the road. A coupling with other systems
of the motor vehicle 2 is also feasible.
[0048] With reference now to FIG. 2, a flow diagram of the method
according to the present disclosure is shown. In a first step 102,
information from the cameras 8, 10 or other sensors is read. In a
second step 104, the information read via the sensors 8, 10 is
evaluated. In a third step 106, the evaluated information is
classified. Classification may, for example, involve assessing the
state of tiredness and direction of attention as well as gestures
of the driver 4. Each class may have a value assigned to it. In a
fourth step 108, a common value is ascertained from the values. To
this end the previous steps may be weighted or organized according
to other principles.
[0049] In a fifth step 110, a response time is ascertained using
the common value and a table. The response time is held in
readiness. In a sixth step 112, a traffic situation is ascertained.
If the traffic situation does not require intervention by the
driver 4, the process starts again. Should an intervention by the
driver be necessary, then in a seventh step 114, a suitable point
in time and a suitable quality of a take-over request is determined
using the response time and the state of attentiveness of the
driver 4. In an eighth step 116, a corresponding take-over request
is issued at a given point in time. Then the process can begin
again.
[0050] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented
in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated
that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be
appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments
are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope,
applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way.
Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those
skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an
exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may
be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an
exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal
equivalents.
* * * * *