System and method for assessing arousal level of driver of vehicle that can select manual driving mode or automated driving mode

An apparatus for assessing arousal level of a driver of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing a computer program, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations including
• (A) acquiring driving mode information that indicates a driving mode of the vehicle is either a first mode, in which travel control of the vehicle is performed by the driver, or a second mode, in which at least a part of the travel control of the vehicle is automatically performed,
• (B) determining whether the driving mode of the vehicle is either the first mode or the second mode based on the driving mode information,
• (C) executing the following (c1) to (c3) in a case where the driving mode is determined as being the first mode,
• (c1) acquiring driving information that indicates a driving operation by the driver and/or indicates a driving state of the vehicle via at least one first sensor that is mounted on the vehicle,
• (c2) acquiring physiological information of the driver via at least one second sensor that is mounted on the vehicle or is attached to the driver, and
• (c3) determining the arousal level based on both of the driving information and the physiological information, and
• (D) executing the following (d1) and (d2) in a case where the driving mode is determined as being the second mode,
• (d1) acquiring the physiological information via the at least one second sensor, and
• (d2) determining the arousal level based on the physiological information without referring to the driving information.