A method is disclosed for operating a motor vehicle, wherein a control device determines a first index value from vital physiological data received from a sensor device at a first point in time. The control device generates a first actuator signal describing the activation of first actuator function, to be carried out by a first actuator that is selected based on the first index value. At a second point in time, the sensor device records additional vital physiological data and identifies a second index value. Both index values, each describing a physiological state of the user, are compared, and the result is used to determine whether the second index value meets an efficacy criterion that describes a predetermined degree of improvement in the physiological state brought about by the activated actuator function. If the second index value meets the efficacy criterion, the first actuator function is activated as soon as an index value is identified that describes the same physiological state.

Techniques for cognitive analysis for directed control transfer with autonomous vehicles are described. In-vehicle sensors are used to collect cognitive state data for an individual within a vehicle which has an autonomous mode of operation. The cognitive state data includes infrared, facial, audio, or biosensor data. One or more processors analyze the cognitive state data collected from the individual to produce cognitive state information. The cognitive state information includes a subset or summary of cognitive state data, or an analysis of the cognitive state data. The individual is scored based on the cognitive state information to produce a cognitive scoring metric. A state of operation is determined for the vehicle. A condition of the individual is evaluated based on the cognitive scoring metric. Control is transferred between the vehicle and the individual based on the state of operation of the vehicle and the condition of the individual.

An information processing device is provided with a controller which executes: obtaining predetermined service information including an advertisement; obtaining predetermined user information on biological information of a user in a vehicle in which the user rides; estimating a health condition of the user based on the user information; extracting distribution information which is information, among the service information, is judged to match the user based on the user's health condition, and which is information about a medical facility according to the health condition or/and information about a predetermined store which sells goods according to the health condition; and selecting, based on position information of the vehicle, information to be actually distributed to the user from among the distribution information thus extracted, and providing the information thus selected to the user, by transmitting the selected distribution information to an on-board device of the vehicle.

An apparatus for controlling a direction and speed of travel an autonomous vehicle or driver assisted autonomous vehicle (AV). A GPS and map module receive a start location and a destination location for the AV. A plurality of sensors identify a current and a proposed lane for the AV. A database of AV baseline maneuver profiles used to control one or more of direction and speed of travel of the AV is provided. A trajectory profile generator module generates a planned path for the AV with lateral acceleration less than 2 Hz, based on the start location, the destination location, the current and proposed lane for the AV, and a selected AV baseline maneuver profile from the database. A steering control module controls the direction of travel of the AV based on the generated AV planned path, and a supervisory control module controls the speed of the AV based on the generated AV planned path and inner ear constraints.

A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle including: obtaining trip information of a current trip of a user of the autonomous vehicle and historical traffic information related to the current trip; selecting an autonomous driving (AD) mode that is suitable for the current trip from a plurality of pre-defined AD modes; comparing time required for the autonomous vehicle to complete a portion of the current trip in the selected AD mode with historical average time to complete the portion of the current trip, the historical average time being acquired based on the historical traffic information; and dynamically adjusting driving of the autonomous vehicle based on the comparison to minimize the difference between the time required for the autonomous vehicle to complete the portion of the current trip in the selected AD mode and the historical average time.

A vehicle control device includes a sleep depth estimation unit that estimates a sleep depth of an occupant seated in a seat provided in a vehicle, and a control unit that controls the vehicle such that a magnitude of the external force to be applied to at least one of a plurality of the occupants is equal to or less than a first threshold value when the estimated sleep depth of the occupant is equal to or lower than a predetermined reference depth or when the occupant is awake, and that controls the vehicle such that the magnitude of the external force to be applied to each of all the occupants is equal to or less than a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value when the sleep depth of each of the occupants is greater than the reference depth.

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that allow for appropriately pulling over to a safe road shoulder when an emergency occurs during automated driving. On the basis of distance information from a depth sensor or the like, a travelable region available for a vehicle to travel is set like an occupancy map, and image attribute information is generated from an image by semantic segmentation. On the basis of the image attribute information, an evacuation space is set in the travelable region in accordance with the situation of the road surface of the travelable region, and thus an evacuation space map is created. The present disclosure can be applied to a mobile object.

Included are: a timing determining unit for determining timing for preparing for transfer of driving authority to a driver on the basis of current position information of the vehicle, route information of the vehicle, and vehicle information of the vehicle; an awakening level calculating unit for calculating an awakening level of an occupant on the basis of occupant information; an authority transfer determining unit for determining whether the transfer of the driving authority is allowed on the basis of the calculated awakening level; and a vehicle state controlling unit for performing control to change a state of the vehicle before switching to the manual driving is announced to the occupant of the vehicle when it is determined that the transfer of the driving authority is not allowed.

Disclosed is a biosensor arrangement structure, including: a plurality of biosensors that is disposed in a seat for supporting an occupant and that measures a health condition of the occupant. The seat includes: a seat body for holding the occupant; and an auxiliary supporter for supporting a body part of the occupant except for a torso and thighs. At least one of the plurality of biosensors is disposed at the auxiliary supporter.

The present teaching relates to method, system, and medium, for switching a mode of a vehicle. Real-time data related to the vehicle are received, which include intrinsic/extrinsic capability parameters, based on which a set of tasks to switch from a current mode to a different mode is determined. A first duration of time required for the switch is determined based on a first risk evaluated with respect to the current mode and the real-time data. A task duration time needed by a driver to complete the task is estimated for each of the set of tasks. A second risk for the switching is estimated based on the required first duration of time and a total task duration times needed to complete the set of tasks. The switch is carried out when the second risk satisfying a criterion.