Drive mode switch controller, system, and method

A drive mode switch control system for switching a drive mode of a vehicle from a manual drive mode to an automatic drive mode, the system comprising:

• a monitoring sensor for monitoring a state of a driver;
• and
• a processor configured with a program to perform operations comprising:
• operation as an obtaining unit configured to obtain sensing data indicating the state of the driver from the monitoring sensor;
• operation as a determination unit configured to determine a degree of concentration of the driver on driving based on the sensing data;
• operation as a notification unit configured to notify the driver that the drive mode will be switched;
• and
• operation as a notification controller configured to control, in response to a determination by the determination unit that the degree of concentration satisfies a predetermined first criterion, the notification unit to notify, before the drive mode is switched, the driver that the drive mode will be switched from the manual drive mode to the automatic drive mode, and control, in response to a determination by the determination unit that the degree of concentration does not satisfy the first criterion, the notification unit not to notify, before the drive mode is switched, the driver that the drive mode will be switched.

A drive mode switch control method for switching a drive mode of a vehicle from a manual drive mode to an automatic drive mode, the method comprising:

• obtaining sensing data indicating a state of a driver of the vehicle from a monitoring sensor for monitoring the state of the driver;
• determining a degree of concentration of the driver on driving based on the sensing data;
• and
• controlling, in response to determining that the degree of concentration satisfies a predetermined first criterion, a notification unit to notify, before the drive mode is switched, the driver that the drive mode will be switched to the automatic drive mode, and controlling, in response to determining that the degree of concentration does not satisfy the first criterion, the notification unit not to notify, before the drive mode is switched, the driver that the drive mode will be switched.