System and method to notify operator of host-vehicle of takeover-event in another-vehicle

A controller circuit for an automated vehicle, said controller circuit comprising:

• an input configured to receive, from a receiver and directly from another vehicle, a report of a takeover event broadcast by the other vehicle from a location, said takeover event characterized by another operator of the other vehicle engaging a manual mode of operation of the other vehicle while the other vehicle was being operated at the location in an automated mode;
• an output configured to operate an alert device operable to notify a host operator of the automated vehicle;
• and
• a processor in communication with the receiver and the alert device, said processor configured to:
• operate the automated vehicle in the automated mode;
• in response to a determination that the automated vehicle is approaching the location, operate the alert device to notify the host operator of the automated vehicle about the takeover event by the other operator of the other vehicle at the location;
• and
• in response to a determination that a percentage of other vehicles that are proximate the location and are experiencing takeover events is greater than a percent threshold, operate the alert device to output a handover request to the host operator, the handover request being characterized as requesting the host operator to change operation of the automated vehicle to the manual mode from the automated mode.

A method of operating a host vehicle, said method comprising:

• receiving, from a receiver and directly from another vehicle, a report of a takeover event broadcast by the other vehicle from a location, said takeover event characterized by another operator of the other vehicle engaging a manual mode of operation of the other vehicle while the other vehicle was being operated at the location in an automated mode;
• operating the host vehicle in the automated mode;
• determining that the host vehicle is approaching the location;
• operating an alert device to notify a host operator of a host vehicle about the takeover event by the other operator of the other vehicle at the location;
• and
• in response to a determination that a percentage of other vehicles that are proximate the location and are experiencing takeover events is greater than a percent threshold, operating the alert device to output a handover request to the host operator, the handover request being characterized as requesting the host operator to change operation of the host vehicle to the manual mode from the automated mode.