A driver state determination apparatus includes circuitry configured to recognize whether a driver's voluntary function works normally and to recognize whether an involuntary function works normally. On condition that the driver's voluntary function does not work normally, the circuitry is configured to reduce a specified time required to recognize whether the involuntary function works normally.

A system for changing a control-mode of an automated vehicle from automated-control to manual-control includes an operator-detection device and a controller. The operator-detection device is operable to detect a readiness-state of an operator of a vehicle while a control-mode of the vehicle is automated-control. The controller is configured to forecast a future-time when the control-mode of the vehicle should change from automated-control to manual-control and determine a take-over-interval for an operator to assume manual-control of the vehicle once notified. The take-over-interval is determined based on the readiness-state. The controller is also configured to notify the operator that the control-mode of the vehicle should change from automated-control to manual-control no later than the take-over-interval prior to the future-time.

A driving assist method and a driving assist device is provided for controlling a transmission ratio of a continuously variable transmission, which steplessly shifts gears and outputs an engine rotation speed. The driving assist method and a driving assist device continuously performs downshifting until an upshift occurs, when the transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission is controlled so that the engine rotational speed increases in conjunction with an increase in a vehicle speed and the upshift will be performed after the vehicle has accelerated.

A remote support system is configured to determine whether a vehicle collides with an object to be avoided when the vehicle gets into a remote control request situation, stop to send a remote control request when the remote support system determines that the vehicle does not collide with the object, generate a first speed plan for the vehicle to continue autonomous driving at a predicted collision position and a second speed plan for the vehicle to stop before reaching the predicted collision position when the remote support system determines that the vehicle collides with the object, and determine to send a remote control request based on the degree of deviation between these speed plans.

A remote control method includes: sending a remote control request to a remote operator when a vehicle configured to drive autonomously is predicted to have difficulty continuing autonomous driving, the remote control request being a request requesting remote control of the vehicle; performing a determination process of determining whether the vehicle has difficulty continuing the autonomous driving, based on a future travel trajectory of the vehicle generated based on driving environment information; determining necessity of sending the remote control request, based on a determination result of the determination process performed based on a first evaluation criterion; and determining necessity of correcting the travel trajectory, based on a determination result of the determination process performed based on a second evaluation criterion.

The disclosure provides an early notification system to alert a driver of an approaching unsafe autonomous or semi-autonomous driving zone so that a driver may switch vehicle to a non-autonomous driving mode and navigate safely through the identified location. In response, to a determination of an upcoming unsafe autonomous or semi-autonomous driving zone, the driver or system may take appropriate actions in response to the early notification.

This disclosure relates to a system and method for determining vehicle operator preparedness for vehicles that support both autonomous operation and manual operation. The system includes sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to vehicles and their operation. During autonomous vehicle operation, the system gauges the level of responsiveness of an individual vehicle operator through challenges and corresponding responses. Based on the level of responsiveness, a preparedness metric is determined for each vehicle operator individually.

A driving takeover apparatus is configured to execute a takeover from an automated driving to a manual driving by a driver in response to, during the automated driving, (i) a current operation amount by the driver to an operation target is within a takeover permissible range set according to a required operation amount to the operation target to generate a takeover control amount, and (ii) a takeover operation device is operated.

To implement a configuration to calculate a manual driving recoverable time required for a driver who is executing automatic driving in order to achieve a requested recovery ratio (RRR) for each road section, and issue a manual driving recovery request notification on the basis of the calculated time. A data processing unit is included, which calculates a manual driving recoverable time required for a driver who is executing automatic driving in order to achieve a predefined requested recovery ratio (RRR) from automatic driving to manual driving and determines notification timing of a manual driving recovery request notification on the basis of the calculated time. The data processing unit acquires the requested recovery ratio (RRR) for each road section set as ancillary information of a local dynamic map (LDM), and calculates the manual driving recoverable time for each road section scheduled to travel, using learning data for each driver.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods capable of adaptively estimating time-to-take over during ODD exit events, by estimating the recovery time for driver and the action time required to safely handle the situation. In more detail, the proposed system allows for field monitoring for online verification (i.e., in-vehicle verification) of adaptive hand over time, and for facilitated updating of the systems predicting the hand-over time (i.e., Action Time Network and Reaction Time Network) in a decoupled manner by efficient use of data from field monitoring.