WO2020012085A1 - Method for tracking the driving activity of a driver of a land motor vehicle and associated land motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The method comprises steps of: - generating operating data using a detecting means (102) arranged in the vehicle, a navigating means (103) arranged in the vehicle and/or a remote data source (104), - extracting a user-profile parameter from a storage medium arranged in the vehicle and/or connected to a hardware port arranged in the vehicle, - processing said operating data in order to determine a driving-behaviour parameter, and - weighting the driving-behaviour parameter depending on the user-profile parameter.

Description

 Method for monitoring the driving activity of a driver of a land motor vehicle and

 The present invention relates to the field of systems for monitoring drivers of land motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to a method for monitoring the driving activity of a driver of a land motor vehicle. The invention applies in particular to motor vehicles.

To improve the safety of motor vehicle drivers, on-board safety systems are known which help to reduce the chances that certain risk situations will occur. For example, to minimize the risk of collision, certain vehicles are equipped with anti-collision devices which activate automatic emergency braking when it is considered that too close proximity to the preceding vehicle exists. In another risk area, to avoid driving under the influence, some vehicles are fitted with safety systems including a breathalyser which is used to check the blood alcohol level during starting. Relative to certain particular risks, such systems therefore make it possible to improve the safety of road users. However, it is recognized that a significant risk factor in road safety is linked to the driving behavior of drivers. This is also why certain insurance companies which are particularly aware of these risks offer their members to use communicating boxes which, at a minimum, allow the recording of data related to road behavior and thus provide a driving activity monitoring interface. The adoption of such systems remains however reduced and it is generally by obligation that certain drivers agree to use them. Furthermore, these systems remain ineffective since, generally, they only take into account a limited number of risk situations. It remains very difficult to determine exhaustively all the components of risky road behavior.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for best minimizing these risks which are linked to the driving behavior of drivers, in particular by providing a method which takes into account a variety of parameters and thus makes it possible to minimize a multitude of risks, whether for the benefit of the driver himself or of other road users.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a method for monitoring the driving activity of a driver of a land motor vehicle, said method being implemented operated by a control unit arranged in the vehicle, said control unit comprising at least one processor, the method comprising the steps of:

 generating operating data using detection means (102) arranged in the vehicle, navigation means arranged in the vehicle (103) and / or a remote data source (104), extracting a user profile parameter a storage medium arranged in the vehicle and / or connected to a hardware port arranged in the vehicle, processing said operating data to determine a parameter of road behavior, and

 weight the driving behavior parameter according to the user profile parameter. According to a variant, said detection means may comprise a camera.

According to another variant, said detection means may be able to generate a first signal as a function of the speed of movement of the vehicle.

According to another variant, said detection means may be able to generate a second signal during inserting a seat belt clip into a receiving ratchet.

According to another variant, said detection means may be able to generate a third signal as a function of an operating state of a vehicle lighting member.

According to another variant, said detection means may be able to generate a fourth signal as a function of an operating state of a vehicle windscreen wiper and / or of a rotation angle of the vehicle steering wheel.

According to another variant, said detection means may be able to generate a fifth signal as a function of the speed of rotation of at least one wheel of the vehicle and / or of the pneumatic pressure of said wheel.

According to another variant, said detection means can be arranged in a rear view mirror of the vehicle.

According to another variant, said detection means may be able to generate a sixth signal as a function of the ambient brightness.

The invention further relates to a land motor vehicle comprising a control unit provided with at least one processor and which implements the method as described above. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended drawings, in which:

 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an operating environment of a method according to the invention,

 - Figure 2 is a flow diagram of steps of the method according to the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a land motor vehicle 100 according to the invention comprises a central unit 101 provided with at least one processor. The central unit 101 is connected to several detection means 102, to at least one navigation means 103, eg a GPS receiver, and, via a dedicated communication channel, eg Internet, to an external data source 104. The control unit 101 further comprises a digital data storage medium 105. As will be seen below, the control unit 101 can be connected via a hardware port 106 arranged in the vehicle to a medium portable digital data storage (not shown).

The elements presented above contribute to the implementation of a method for monitoring the driving activity of a driver, which is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2. For greater clarity, the process will then be put into perspective with several examples. In a first step 201, the control unit 101 receives signals from one of the detection means 102, from the navigation means 103 and / or from the external data source 104. On the basis of the signals received, the control unit 101 generates useful operating data. To do this, the control unit 101 is provided with a signal processing interface which makes it possible to process and interpret the signals transmitted by the detection means 102, the navigation means 103 and the external data source 104. L The control unit 101 is thus able to, for example, process video streams, form or analyze images, interpret electrical signals, extract or form digital data, perform calculations, and / or form communication frames.

During a second step 202, the control unit extracts a user profile parameter from the storage medium 105, or from the portable storage medium 106. This user profile parameter can contain data on the driver, for example data which characterize a driver's driving experience defined, for example, among the following alternatives: beginner, intermediate, confirmed.

During a third step 203, the control unit processes the operating data generated during step 201 to establish at least one parameter of road behavior. By processing, for example, operating data generated during the acquisition by the control unit of a video stream transmitted by an on-board camera in the vehicle, the control unit is able to determine the presence of traffic signs , ground marking elements or traffic lights. On the contrary, by processing operating data generated when the control unit receives a data flow transmitted by a computer capable of generating a signal to the control unit when inserting a clip seat belt in its receiving pawl, the control unit is able to determine whether the driver has correctly fastened his seat belt.

During a fourth step 204, the control unit performs a task of weighting the driving behavior parameter with respect to the user profile parameter. This step determines the severity of a road behavior based on the driver's driving experience. The control unit 101 is therefore able to establish that faulty behavior is more serious for an experienced driver than for a novice driver. According to a particular embodiment, the road behavior parameter takes the form of a numerical value "n". During the weighting step, this numerical value is then multiplied by a predefined multiplying factor and chosen as a function of the driver's driving experience among, for example, the following values: 1/3, 2/3, 1. A weighted behavior parameter is thus obtained which, according to the driver's driving experience, corresponds to n / 3 , 2n / 3 or n.

According to a first example, to minimize the risks relating to prohibited parking, speeding, poor positioning on the road or refusal of priority, the control unit 101 interacts during the implementation of step 201 with detection means 102 which comprises a camera arranged in the vehicle. The control unit processes the received video stream to generate operating data which indicates, for example, the nature and color of the markings on the ground or the presence of any prohibition signs. During the implementation of the processing step 203, the control unit is able to determine whether certain faulty behaviors occur by examining, for example, possible crossing of a continuous line or non-compliance with the traffic lights. and traffic signs.

According to another example, in order to minimize risks relating to a lack of conformity in terms of lighting, the control unit 101 interacts during the implementation of step 201 with a detection means 102 which is capable of generate a signal to the control unit 101 according to the state of operation of a vehicle lighting member and / or with a detection means 102 which is capable of generating a signal to the control unit 101 as a function of the ambient brightness. In this way, the control unit 101 is able to determine that risky road behavior exists when the driver is driving with a burnt out bulb or without turning on his headlights in a tunnel. According to another example, so that the driver does not forget to fasten his seat belt, the control unit interacts during the implementation of step 201 with a detection means 102 which is capable of generating a signal towards the control unit 101 when inserting a seat belt clip in its receiving pawl. During the implementation of the processing step 203, the control unit 101 is able to determine that faulty behavior exists when the driver is driving without fastening his belt.

According to another example, in order to minimize the risks relating to untimely lane changes, the control unit interacts during the implementation of step 201 with a detection means 102 capable of generating a signal to the control unit. control as a function of the angle of rotation of the steering wheel of the vehicle and / or with a detection means 102 capable of generating a signal to the control unit when a flashing light is used. During the implementation of the processing step 203, by using a timer functionality allowing the measurement of an elapsed time duration, the control unit 101 is able to determine that a faulty behavior exists when, for example, the driver changes lanes too frequently during a given period of time.

According to another example, to minimize the risks relating to speeding, the control unit 101 interacts with a detection means 102 capable of generating a signal to the control unit 101 as a function of the speed of movement of the vehicle. During the implementation of the processing step 203, the control unit is able to determine if a faulty behavior exists, for example by recovering operating data previously generated using data relating to the speed limits provided. by the navigation means 103 or extracted from the external data source 104. Alternatively or cumulatively, the control unit also interacts with a detection means 102 capable of generating a signal to the control unit if it detects the presence rain on the vehicle windshield. According to another example, in order to minimize the risks relating to traffic with tires inflated inappropriately, the control unit interacts with a detection means 102 capable of generating a signal to the control unit 101 as a function of the speed of rotation of a wheel, eg based on the use of information supplied by the ABS system, and / or with a detection means 102 capable of generating a signal to the control unit 101 as a function of the pneumatic pressure of the wheel (eg pneumatic caps with pressure sensor).

According to another example, to minimize the risks relating to dangerous overtaking, the control unit 101 interacts with a detection means 102 arranged in the rear view mirror of the vehicle, eg a presence sensor, which is capable of generating a signal towards the control unit 101 when a vehicle is present in its detection field.

Thus, by allowing the monitoring of a multitude of parameters related to the driving behavior of a driver, the method according to the invention makes it possible to effectively minimize most of the risks that a driver can run or cause other road users to run. . Indeed, by interfacing a control unit which implements the method according to the invention with an autonomous or quasi-autonomous driving module of the vehicle, one can use the information provided by the control unit to automatically adapt, or to demand, a mode of conduct. According to a less invasive risk minimization system, it can also be envisaged that the information calculated by the control unit is presented to the driver via his smartphone when it is connected to the vehicle in place of the portable storage medium 106. In such a case, we can take advantage of the other functionalities provided by the smartphone (screen and means of alert) to display a driving score, alert the user of faulty behavior and / or report the presence of road signs that should be taken into account. The invention is not limited to the examples described above. On the contrary, it could also be envisaged that it is the smartphone which implements the steps described above, for example by relying on an interface allowing it to interact directly with the detection means 102. Other constructions are possible, based for example on the handling by an interface arranged in the vehicle of interactions with the detection means 102 and on the use of a data extraction module implemented by the smartphone to recover the data generated by the interface.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A method for monitoring the driving activity of a driver of a land motor vehicle (100), said method being implemented by a control unit (101) arranged in the vehicle, said control unit ( 101) comprising at least one processor, characterized in that the method comprising the steps of:  - generating operating data using a detection means (102) arranged in the vehicle, a navigation means arranged in the vehicle (103) and / or a remote data source (104), - extracting a profile parameter d the user of a storage medium arranged in the vehicle and / or connected to a hardware port arranged in the vehicle, processing said operating data to determine a parameter of road behavior, and  weight the driving behavior parameter according to the user profile parameter. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said detection means (102) comprises a camera. 3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detection means is capable of generating a first signal as a function of the speed of movement of the vehicle. 4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detection means is capable of generating a second signal when a seat belt fastener is inserted into a receiving pawl. 5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detection means is capable of generating a third signal as a function of an operating state of a vehicle lighting member. 6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detection means is capable of generating a fourth signal as a function of an operating state of a wiper of the vehicle and / or of an angle of vehicle steering wheel rotation. 7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detection means is capable of generating a fifth signal as a function of the speed of rotation of at least one wheel of the vehicle and / or of the pneumatic pressure of said wheel. 8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detection means is arranged in a rear view mirror of the vehicle. 9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detection means is capable of generating a sixth signal as a function of the ambient brightness. 10. Land motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (101) provided with at least one processor and which implements the method according to one of the preceding claims.