A driver assistant system for improvement of passenger ride comfort through modification of driving behaviour

• Published in: IEE conference publication pp. 38 - 42
• Main Authors: Wang, F, Ma, N, Inooka, H
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: London IEE 2001
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Civil and mechanical engineering computing; Computer science; control theory; systems; Data handling techniques; Exact sciences and technology; Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction; Office automation, teleprocessing; Road transportation and traffic; Road-traffic system control; Software; Traffic engineering computing; driving behaviour modification; automobiles; RDI estimation; driving skills; daily life; Japanese people; passenger ride comfort; passenger-friendly maneuvers; driver assistant system; driving behaviour; driver information systems; real-time systems; Japanese governmental statistics; velocity fluctuation; ride discomfort index; data acquisition; real time; Road transportation; Regression analysis; Vehicle driving; Linear regression
• DOI: 10.1049/cp:20010494
• ISBN: 0852967438; 9780852967430
• ISSN: 0537-9989

In recent years, using automobiles for transportation becomes an unavoidable part of one's daily life. For example, Japanese governmental statistics shows that Japanese people traveled on average about 7500 kilometers in the fiscal year of 1999 as drivers or passengers of automobiles. Hence, improving the ride comfort of automobiles becomes a subject of increasing importance. The ride discomfort caused by velocity fluctuation is studied. A ride discomfort index (RDI) and a model that estimates the RDI are proposed. Furthermore, based on the assumption that by improving his/her driving skills and modifying his/her driving behaviour, a driver can control the velocity fluctuation of an automobile to reduce the RDI and thus can improve the passenger ride comfort. A driver assistant system that estimates the RDI and feeds it back in real time to the driver is developed. Its function in reducing the RDI is tested through experiments. The aim of the study is to assist the driver in modifying his/her driving skills and driving behaviour to reduce passenger ride discomfort and thus provide passenger-friendly maneuvers.