Systems and methods for detecting and dynamically mitigating driver fatigue

US10807605B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Waymo LLC · US

Inventors

• Keith Hutchings · San Jose, US
• Julien Mercay · Redwood City, US
• Philip Nemec · San Jose, US
• Hans-Olav CaveLie · San Francisco, US
• Saswat Panigrahi · Mountain View, US
• Renaud-Roland Hubert · Gilroy, US
• Johan Engstrom · Handen, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 19, 2018
• Grant date: Oct 20, 2020
• Expiry date: Dec 19, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60W2555/20
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

This technology relates to dynamically detecting, managing and mitigating driver fatigue in autonomous systems. For instance, interactions of a driver in a vehicle may be monitored to determine a distance or time when primary tasks associated with operation of the vehicle or secondary tasks issued by the vehicle computing were last performed. If primary tasks or secondary tasks are not performed within given distance thresholds or time limits, then one or more secondary tasks are initiated by the computing device of the vehicle. In another instance, potential driver fatigue, driver distraction or overreliance on an automated driving system is detected based on gaze direction or pattern of a driver. For example, a detected gaze direction or pattern may be compared to an expected gaze direction or pattern given the surrounding environment in a vicinity of the vehicle.