A driver state determination apparatus detects decline of the physical function of a driver and confirms an abnormal state before the driver becomes unable to drive. A vibration apparatus vibrates a steering wheel; a vibration detector detects vibration of the steering wheel; a steering angle sensor detects a steering angle of the steering wheel; and a controller controls the vibration apparatus. The controller provides vibration at a predetermined excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus, calculates a steering torque level at the excitation frequency based on the vibration detected by the vibration detector, and determines that the driver is in an abnormal state when a correlation coefficient between a time variation of a steering torque level while the vibration is being provided and a time variation of a steering angle while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a predetermined value.
DRIVER STATE DETERMINATION APPARATUS
2023-11-30
Patent
Electronic Resource
English