Mazda Motor Corporation

Hitomi Nakazato

Junichiro Kuwahara

Yohei Iwashita

Yoko Hoshino

Ryohei Hisamitsu

Disclosed herein is a technique for providing driving assistance for a driver in such a way as to increase the driver's degree of internal focus on driving if his or her degree of internal focus on driving is estimated to be low when deactivation of autonomous driving is predicted. Examples of such driving assistance include boosting the moving vehicle noise to be heard inside the vehicle's cabin, increasing sensitivity to a change in the vehicle's state responsive to driving operations, providing navigation to a road with features that would entertain the driver through driving, and giving guidance in exemplary driving operations.

Driving assistance device

When finding the driver distracted from driving (such as looking aside), this system provides driving assistance that enhances his or her motivation to drive by encouraging him or her to drive actively and thereby increase his or her internal focus on driving. Examples of specific driving assistance include giving exemplary driving instructions to the driver, providing him or her with navigation to a road with features that would entertain him or her through driving, and improving sensitivity to any change in the vehicle's state responsive to driving operations. If dangerous driving is sensed while the driving assistance is being provided, driving control may be performed to increase the driver's tension.

Driving assistance system

When finding the driver distracted from driving (such as looking aside), this system first alerts him or her to the fact to prompt him or her to focus on driving. However, if the driver is still distracted from driving even when alerted, driving assistance are provided for him or her to enhance his or her motivation to drive by encouraging him or her to drive actively and thereby increase his or her internal focus on driving. Examples of specific driving assistance include giving exemplary driving instructions to the driver, providing him or her with navigation to a road with features that would entertain him or her through driving, and improving sensitivity to any change in the vehicle's state responsive to driving operations.

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Hiroshima, Japan

Hitomi Nakazato