Self-explaining autonomous vehicle
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorJames Peter Foley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for apprising a driver to a change in automation level of an automated self-drive system for a vehicle includes identifying an expected automation level change and communicating a required engagement level. The driver is thereby apprised of an appropriate level of engagement with each of a multiple of manual vehicle controls.
Claims19
A computer storage medium having embodied thereon non-transitory computer-readable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for apprising a driver to an expected automation level change in an automated self-drive system for a vehicle, the method comprising:
- identifying, in a vehicle having a multiple of manual vehicle controls, but subject to control under an automated self-drive system according to a plurality of automation levels with mutually distinct sets of driver's responsibilities for operating the multiple of manual vehicle controls, an expected automation level change from a current automation level to an upcoming automation level;
- and
- communicating, with a driver vehicle interface in the vehicle, a required engagement level for the expected automation level change to a driver, the communication including a specific instruction as to all of the driver's new responsibilities for operating the multiple of manual vehicle controls from the set of driver's responsibilities for operating the multiple of manual vehicle controls for the current automation level to that for the upcoming automation level upon the expected automation level change.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a multiple of manual vehicle controls;
- an automated self-drive system under which the vehicle is controlled according to a plurality of automation levels with mutually distinct sets of driver's responsibilities for operating the multiple of manual vehicle controls;
- a control system for identifying an expected automation level change from a current automation level to an upcoming automation level;
- and
- a driver vehicle interface in communication with the control system for communicating a required engagement level for the expected automation level change to a driver, the communication including a specific instruction as to all of the driver's new responsibilities for operating the multiple of manual vehicle controls from the set of driver's responsibilities for operating the multiple of manual vehicle controls for the current automation level to that for the upcoming automation level upon the expected automation level change.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.