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An Orientation Sensor-Based Head Tracking System for Driver Behaviour Monitoring
Yifan Zhao1, Lorenz Görne2, Iek-Man Yuen3
1School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK. yifan.zhao@cranfield.ac.uk.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 23, 2017
Summary
A new orientation sensor head tracking system effectively monitors drivers in autonomous vehicles, even during non-driving activities (NDAs). This technology offers greater head movement detection than camera-based systems, crucial for ensuring driver readiness to retake control.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Autonomous Vehicle Safety
- Driver Monitoring Systems
Background:
- Current legislation restricts drivers from secondary tasks in Level 3 autonomous vehicles.
- Monitoring driver behavior during non-driving activities (NDAs) is vital for assessing takeover capability.
- Existing camera-based head tracking systems have limitations in detecting head movement angles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and evaluate a novel orientation sensor-based head tracking system.
- To overcome the angle limitations of camera-based systems for monitoring driver NDAs.
- To accurately characterize driver behavior during non-driving activities in autonomous vehicles.
Main Methods:
- Development of a twin-device orientation sensor system measuring vehicle and head absolute movement.
- In-house and on-road testing comparing the proposed system with camera-based methods.
- Case study analysis of driver behavior during specific NDAs (chatting, smartphone use).
Main Results:
- The orientation sensor system achieved measurement errors below 0.4° (shaking, nodding) and 2° (rolling).
- Demonstrated superior ability to detect head movement angles exceeding 20° compared to camera systems.
- Effectively characterized driver behavior during NDAs based on measured shaking and nodding angles.
Conclusions:
- The proposed orientation sensor head tracking system offers a significant advancement for monitoring drivers in autonomous vehicles.
- Its enhanced angle detection capabilities are crucial for assessing driver readiness for manual takeover.
- The system provides a reliable method for characterizing driver engagement in non-driving activities.
