Vehicle operator awareness system

US10864920B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• UATC, LLC · US

Inventors

• Richard Donnelly · Pittsburgh, US
• Philipp Haban · San Francisco, US
• Christopher Matthew D'Eramo · Bethel Park, US
• Chad Johnathan Staller · Verona, US
• Clifford Shaun Webb · Pittsburgh, US
• Douglas Dallesandro · Bethel Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 8, 2018
• Grant date: Dec 15, 2020
• Expiry date: Dec 22, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16F2238/022
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for maintaining autonomous vehicle operator awareness are provided. A method can include determining, by a computing system, an awareness challenge for an operator of a vehicle. The awareness challenge can be based on object data. The awareness challenge can have one or more criteria. The criteria can include a challenge response interval, a response time, and an action for satisfying the awareness challenge. The method can include initiating, by the computing system, a timer measuring elapsed time from a start time of the challenge response interval. The method can include communicating to the operator, by the computing system, a soft notification indicative of the awareness challenge during the challenge response interval. The method can include determining, by the computing system, whether the operator provides a user input after the response time interval and whether the user input corresponds to the action for satisfying the awareness challenge.