Monitoring you... What's next...workplace, home, lakeside?
Ford Research Developing Intelligent System to Help Drivers Manage Stressful
Situations on the Road
DEARBORN, Mich., June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Existing sensor signals
for driver-assist systems can be combined in new ways to estimate workload on the
driver based on traffic and road conditions
Ford researchers also are using biometric feedback through sensors in the
steering wheel, seat and seat belt to provide a more complete model of driver
stress levels
Driver workload estimation can be used to manage in-vehicle communications by
helping minimize driver distractions during hectic conditions
With today's ever-increasing concern about driver distraction, engineers in the
Ford Research and Innovation labs are developing ways to help the driver stay
focused in busy situations by intelligently managing incoming communications.
"Ford has been a leader in delivering solutions for in-car communications and
simplifying the user interface, and now we're researching ways to use the car's
own intelligence to further help drivers," says Jeff Greenberg, senior technical
leader of Ford Research and Innovation. "Vehicle control inputs, sensors, road
conditions and biometric information such as a driver's pulse and breathing can
all be used to create a driver workload estimation that can then help manage
certain functions in demanding situations."
Data from the sensing systems of driver-assist technologies can be used to
determine the amount of external demand and workload upon a driver at any given
time including traffic and road conditions. In addition, Ford continues its
health and wellness research with the development of a biometric seat, seat belt
and steering wheel that can monitor the condition of the driver to help add an
even more specific estimate of the driver's state of being.
The driver workload estimator is an algorithm using real-time data from existing
sensors such as radar and cameras combined with input from the driver's use of
the throttle, brakes and steering wheel. The result is an intelligent system
enabling management of in-vehicle communications based on the assessed workload
of the driving situation.
For example, the side-looking radar sensors used for the Blind Spot Information
System (BLIS?) and the forward-looking camera for the Lane-Keeping System are on
watch even when there is no active warning provided to the driver. These signals
could indicate there is a significant amount of traffic in the lane that you are
merging into while entering a highway.
Combine that knowledge with the fact that the driver has increased throttle pedal
pressure to speed up, and the workload estimate could be high enough to determine
it isn't a very good time for an incoming phone call to ring inside the cabin.
The car could intelligently apply the "Do Not Disturb" feature that is already
available as part of MyFord? Touch, helping the driver stay focused on the road
during the high-demand situation.
Monitoring driver biometrics"In addition to using existing vehicle data to
estimate demand on the driver, we're researching ways to get an even better
understanding of the stress level of the driver," says Gary Strumolo, manager of
vehicle design and infotronics, Ford Research and Innovation. "Biometric or
health information of the driver can help us better tailor the experience when
behind the wheel."
Turning new biometric sensors toward the driver will help to create a more
complete picture of the driver workload. The research team has built a biometric
seating buck to test a number of different sensors and gather data on how drivers
respond to a variety of inputs for a driver behavior model.
The experimental system adds several sensors to the steering wheel rim and spokes
to get more detailed driver information. Anyone who has used modern exercise
equipment like treadmills and stair climbers will be familiar with the metal pads
on the rim that can be used to measure the driver's heart rate.
Infrared sensors on the steering wheel monitor the palms of a driver's hands as
well as his or her face looking for changes in temperature. A downward-looking
infrared sensor under the steering column measures the cabin temperature to
provide a baseline for comparing changes in the driver's temperature. The final
sensor is embedded in the seat belt to assess the driver's breathing rate.
With a more complete picture of the driver's health and wellness blended with
knowledge of what is happening outside the vehicle, the car will have the
intelligence to dynamically adjust the alerts provided to the driver and filter
interruptions. With the driver occupied in heavy traffic, the vehicle control
system could increase the warning times for forward collision alerts and
automatically filter out phone calls and messages, allowing the driver more time
to respond. On the other hand, an alert driver on an open highway could receive
incoming calls.
"While these features are still in research, they show significant opportunity
for us to leverage data already being captured by the vehicle and apply an
intelligent decision-making system to simplify the driving experience," adds
Strumolo.
About Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company (F), a global automotive industry
leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across
six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the
company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides
financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information
regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit
corporate.ford.com.  |
