The disclosed embodiments are directed to adjusting the operational characteristics of a black box installed in a vehicle. In one embodiment a method is disclosed comprising classifying a mental state of a driver of an automobile, loading at least one setting based on the mental state, the setting defining an operational characteristic of a black box installed in the automobile, configuring the black box using the at least one setting, and recording one or more events by the black box.

A system includes one or more processors that are configured to receive data from one or more sensors, to determine whether one or more characteristics of a driver or an occupant indicate driving control of a vehicle should transfer from the driver based on the data, and to enable a remote operator to control operation of the vehicle in response to determining that the driving control should transfer from the driver.

A distracted driving analysis system for identifying distracted driving events is provided. The system includes a processor in communication with a memory device programmed to: (i) receive driving event records, each driving event record including phone usage by a user, wherein a driving event record is labeled as an actual distracted driving event or a passenger event, (ii) divide the driving event records into at least two clusters based at least in part upon common features and the labels of each driving event record by processing the plurality of driving event records with a semi-supervised machine learning algorithm, (iii) generate a trained model based at least in part upon the at least two clusters, (iv) process a new driving event using the trained model, (v) assign the new driving event to one of the clusters using the trained model, and/or (vi) determine whether the new driving event is an actual distracted driving event or a passenger event.

Systems, methods, and techniques for assessing driver safety based on noise levels or sounds associated with the interior of a vehicle are provided. Noise levels or sounds associated with the interior of a vehicle over a first interval of time may be compared to indications of vehicle motion over the first interval of time to identify noise levels or sounds at times when the indications of vehicle motion indicate unsafe driving. The identified noise levels or sounds may be analyzed to determine noise levels, sources, and/or characteristics of sounds associated with unsafe driving. Noise levels or sounds associated with the interior of the vehicle over a second interval of time may be analyzed to determine instances in which the noise levels, sources, and/or characteristics of sounds associated with unsafe driving occur over the second interval of time. Alerts may be generated for vehicle operators based on the determined instances.

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to reducing audible distractions for a driver of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining audio data based on sound detected inside the vehicle, identifying an audio event based on the audio data, determining a distraction rating for the audio event, the distraction rating indicating an estimated level of distraction caused by the audio event, and generating an alert when the distraction rating exceeds a threshold.

A method and an apparatus for controlling an autonomous driving vehicle are provided. The method includes: receiving environment information sent by an autonomous driving vehicle, the environment information including vehicle exterior environment information; determining whether the autonomous driving vehicle is in an abnormal operation status, based on the vehicle exterior environment information and operation information of an operation executed by the autonomous driving vehicle; and sending a braking control instruction and a data acquisition instruction to the autonomous driving vehicle, in response to determining that the autonomous driving vehicle is in the abnormal operation status, the braking control instruction being used for controlling braking of the autonomous driving vehicle, and the data acquisition instruction being used for acquiring data of a driving recorder in the autonomous driving vehicle.

The present teaching relates to method, system, and medium, for operating a vehicle. The method includes the steps of receiving Real-time data related to the vehicle are received. A current mode of operation of the vehicle is determined. A first risk associated with the current mode of operation of the vehicle is evaluated based on the real-time data in accordance with a risk model. If the first risk satisfies a first criterion, a second risk associated with switching the current mode to a different mode of operation of the vehicle is determined. The vehicle is switched from the current mode to the different mode if the second risk satisfies a second criterion.

Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for detecting alertness of a driver of a vehicle. In one exemplary method, a driver alertness detection system determines whether a driver of a vehicle is susceptible to lagophthalmos. If the driver is susceptible to lagophthalmos, the driver alertness detection system may evaluate an alertness state of the driver by disregarding an eyelid status of the driver and monitoring biometrics of the driver such as, a heart rate and/or a breathing pattern. Alternatively, the driver alertness detection system may evaluate an alertness state of the driver by placing a higher priority on the biometrics of the driver than on the eyelid status. However, if the driver is not susceptible to lagophthalmos, the driver alertness detection system evaluates the alertness state by placing a higher priority on the eyelid status than on the biometrics of the driver.

A guidance apparatus for an autonomous vehicle and a method therefor are provided. The guidance apparatus includes a first guidance device that guides a passenger in the autonomous vehicle through first response information, a second guidance device that guides a rescuer outside the autonomous vehicle through second response information, and a controller that controls guidance on the first response information and guidance on the second response information, when abnormality occurs in the autonomous vehicle.

A vehicle control apparatus operates in various modes, e.g., a normal mode in which plural travel functions of a vehicle are controlled by plural driving functions of a driver; an automatic mode in which all driving functions are performed by the vehicle; an optimization mode in which, when a temporary reduction of driving performance of any of the plural driving functions of the driver is detected, physical stimulation and/or information that makes the driver recognize the temporary reduction of the driving performance is provided to the driver; and an assistance mode in which, when a chronic reduction of the driving performance of any of the plural driving functions of the driver is detected, information on assistance with execution of the driving performance is provided to the driver.