A vehicle alert system includes a processor programmed to receive a handoff or take over request indicating a transition of a host vehicle from an autonomous mode of operation to a non-autonomous or manual mode of operation. The processor is further programmed to output a notification signal in response to receiving the handoff request. A vehicle component is configured to deliver an electrical current or electric shock to a vehicle driver in response to the notification signal. The vehicle component may be a steering wheel 165, which has two electrically conductive leads 175, 180 which are spaced apart from each other. The steering wheel may have touch sensors 120 which detect whether a right and left hand of the driver is in physical contact with the wheel. The system may allow transition to the manual mode of operation if both hands are in contact with the wheel. If both hands are not in contact, the system may send the notification signal to another component, which may be a light, speaker or seat (Fig.4, 185).
Autonomous vehicle handoff alert
2018-05-30
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60W CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION , Gemeinsame Steuerung oder Regelung von Fahrzeug-Unteraggregaten verschiedenen Typs oder verschiedener Funktion / B60K Anordnung oder Einbau von Antriebseinheiten oder von Kraft- bzw. Drehmomentübertragungen in Fahrzeugen , ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES / B60N SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES , Sitze besonders für Fahrzeuge ausgebildet / B60Q ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL , Anordnung von Signal- oder Beleuchtungsvorrichtungen, deren Einbau oder Halterung oder deren Schaltkreise bei Fahrzeugen allgemein / B62D MOTOR VEHICLES , Motorfahrzeuge |