Method and device for monitoring a steering action of a driver of a vehicle

A device for monitoring a steering action of a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

• a torque applying unit to apply an automated steering torque on a steering system of the vehicle;
• a torque reducing unit to reduce the automated steering torque, wherein in the reducing, the automated steering torque is reduced by hands of the driver using a piece of information about a suspected non-touching of a steering wheel of the vehicle;
• a detection unit to detect at least one of a movement of the steering system, a force of the steering system, and a lateral movement of the vehicle in response to the reduction of the automated steering torque, so as to monitor the steering action of the driver;
• and
• forming the piece of information about the suspected non-touching of the steering wheel of the vehicle by the hands of the driver, the piece of information being formed when an active steering torque executed by the driver is below a predetermined threshold value over the duration of a predetermined time interval;
• wherein in the reducing, the automated steering torque is reduced in a first reducing interval to a predetermined first target value and to a predetermined second target value in a second reducing interval, the predetermined second target value falling below the predetermined first target value.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:

• a program code arrangement having program code for monitoring a steering action of a driver of a vehicle, by performing the following:
• applying, via a torque applying unit, an automated steering torque on a steering system of the vehicle;
• reducing, via a torque reducing unit, the automated steering torque, wherein in the reducing, the automated steering torque is reduced by hands of the driver using a piece of information about a suspected non-touching of a steering wheel of the vehicle;
• detecting, via a detection unit, at least one of a movement of the steering system, a force of the steering system, and a lateral movement of the vehicle in response to the reduction of the automated steering torque, so as to monitor the steering action of the driver;
• forming the piece of information about the suspected non-touching of the steering wheel of the vehicle by the hands of the driver, the piece of information being formed when an active steering torque executed by the driver is below a predetermined threshold value over the duration of a predetermined time interval;
• wherein in the reducing, the automated steering torque is reduced in a first reducing interval to a predetermined first target value and to a predetermined second target value in a second reducing interval, the predetermined second target value falling below the predetermined first target value.