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EP-4737204-A1 - METHOD FOR DETECTING AN INCAPACITATION OF AN OCCUPANT OF A VEHICLE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE

EP4737204A1EP 4737204 A1EP4737204 A1EP 4737204A1EP-4737204-A1

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for detecting an incapacitation of an occupant (18) of a vehicle (10). The method comprises obtaining first data (D1) indicative of a pressure distribution on a seat (12) of the vehicle, wherein the seat (12) is occupied by the occupant (18). The method further comprises obtaining second data (D2) indicative of a position and/or orientation of at least one body part (52, 53, 54, 55) of the occupant (18). Moreover, the method comprises providing third data (D3) indicative of an incapacitation of the occupant (18) based on the first data (D1) and based on the second data (D2). Moreover, the disclosure relates to a method for controlling the vehicle (10). The disclosure is also directed to a data processing apparatus (32), a computer program (40), and a computer-readable storage medium (38) for executing said methods. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a system (44) for detecting an incapacitation of an occupant (18) of a vehicle (10) and to a vehicle (10) comprising the system (44).

Inventors

  • ZELENIKA ZEBA, Mirta
  • SVANBERG, Bo
  • NILSSON, Emma
  • BJÖRKLUND, Magnus

Assignees

  • Volvo Car Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241031

Claims (15)

  1. A method for detecting an incapacitation of an occupant (18) of a vehicle (10), the method comprising: - obtaining first data (D1) indicative of a pressure distribution on a seat (12) of the vehicle (10), wherein the seat (12) is occupied by the occupant (18), - obtaining second data (D2) indicative of a position and/or orientation of at least one body part (52, 53, 54, 55) of the occupant (18) within an interior of the vehicle (10), - providing third data (D3) indicative of an incapacitation of the occupant (18) based on the first data (D1) and based on the second data (D2).
  2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first data (D1) is indicative of a chronological evolution of the pressure distribution on the seat (12) of the vehicle (10).
  3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one body part (52, 53, 54, 55) comprises at least one of a torso (54), an arm (55), a leg (53), and a head (52) of the occupant (18).
  4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second data (D2) comprises image data, radar data and/or lidar data.
  5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second data (D2) is further indicative of a movement of the occupant (18) within the interior of the vehicle (10).
  6. A method for controlling a vehicle (10), the method comprising: - detecting an incapacitation of an occupant (18) of the vehicle (10) using the method of any one of the preceding claims, and - triggering a safety measure (SAM) of the vehicle (10) based on the third data (D3).
  7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the safety measure (SAM) comprises at least one of triggering an optical warning, triggering an acoustic warning, triggering a haptic warning, triggering an activation of hazard lights of the vehicle (10), triggering an emergency call, requesting a speed reduction of the vehicle (10), requesting a standstill of the vehicle (10), requesting pulling over of the vehicle (10) to a side of a road on which the vehicle (10) is travelling, and requesting a drive of the vehicle (10) to a medical facility.
  8. A data processing apparatus (32) comprising means (42) for carrying out the method of any one of claims 1 to 5 and/or the method of claim 6 or 7.
  9. A computer program (40) comprising instructions which, when the computer program (40) is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 5 and/or the method of claim 6 or 7.
  10. A computer-readable storage medium (38) comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 5 and/or the method of claim 6 or 7.
  11. A system (44) for detecting an incapacitation of an occupant (18) of a vehicle (10), the system (44) comprising: - a first sensing element (16) for generating first data (D1) indicative of a pressure distribution on a seat (12) of the vehicle (10), - a second sensing element (24) for generating at least a portion of the second data (D2) indicative of a position and/or orientation of at least one body part (52, 53, 54, 55) of the occupant (18) within an interior of the vehicle (10), and - a data processing apparatus (32) according to claim 8, wherein the first sensing element (16) and the second sensing element (24) are communicatively connected to the data processing apparatus (32), and wherein the data processing apparatus (32) comprises a communication interface for providing the third data (D3) indicative of an incapacitation of the occupant (18) based on the first data (D1) and based on the second data (D2).
  12. The system (44) according to claim 11, wherein the first sensing element (16) comprises a pressure sensor and/or a pressure sensing mat (14) arrangeable in or on a seat (12) of the vehicle (10).
  13. The system (44) according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising a third sensing element (28) for generating at least a portion of the second data (D2) indicative of a position and/or orientation of at least one body part (52, 53, 54, 55) of the occupant (18) within the interior of the vehicle (10).
  14. The system (44) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the second sensing element (24) and/or the third sensing element (28) comprises an optical camera (22), a radar unit (26) and/or a lidar unit configured to capture at least one of a torso (54), an arm (55), a leg (53), and a head (52) of the occupant (18).
  15. A vehicle (10) comprising a system (44) according to any one of claims 11 to 14 for detecting an incapacitation of an occupant (18) of the vehicle (10).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting an incapacitation of an occupant of a vehicle and to a method for controlling the vehicle. The present disclosure also relates to a corresponding data processing apparatus, a computer program and to a computer-readable storage medium. Moreover, the present disclosure is directed to a system for detecting an incapacitation of an occupant of a vehicle and to a vehicle comprising said system. BACKGROUND ART An incapacitation of an occupant of a vehicle can occur during use of the vehicle. In this context, an incapacitation may be understood as a medical anomaly that deviates from a normal or expected medical condition. The normal or expected medical condition may for example be associated with the medical condition at the beginning of a drive cycle or at the beginning of a use of the vehicle. Thus, a medical anomaly would occur if the medical condition changes during the use of the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, an incapacitation may be understood as a sleeping state and/or a drowsy state of the occupant. If the driver of the vehicle suffers from the incapacitation, this may affect the driver's ability to control the vehicle. If the occupant suffering from the incapacitation, especially a medical anomaly, is a passenger, the medical anomaly may distract the driver of the vehicle. Both situations are problematic from the perspective of road safety. SUMMARY It is therefore an objective of the present disclosure to improve the detection of an incapacitation of an occupant of a vehicle. The problem is at least partially solved or alleviated by the subject matter of the independent claims of the present disclosure, wherein further examples are incorporated in the dependent claims. According to a first aspect, there is provided a method for detecting an incapacitation of an occupant of a vehicle. The method comprises: obtaining first data indicative of a pressure distribution on a seat of the vehicle, wherein the seat is occupied by the occupant,obtaining second data indicative of a position and/or orientation of at least one body part of the occupant within an interior of the vehicle,providing third data indicative of an incapacitation of the occupant based on the first data and based on the second data. In this context, obtaining the first data comprises receiving or determining the first data indicative of the pressure distribution on the seat of the vehicle. The pressure distribution is created by the weight of the occupant occupying the seat. The first data may encompass a pressure distribution on a seating surface of the seat. Additionally or alternatively, the first data may encompass a pressure distribution on a backrest of the seat. Further additionally or alternatively, the first data may encompass a pressure distribution on a headrest of the seat. The first data may be provided by and/or received from any sensor configured to indicate a pressure distribution on the seat of the vehicle or on a portion of the seat. Thus, the first data may be provided and/or received from a pressure sensor. According to an example, such a sensor may form part of a pressure sensing mat which may be arranged in a portion of the seat such as in the seating surface, the backrest or the headrest. According to another example, it is also possible to receive the first data from another data processing apparatus such as a server. The server may be a cloud server. Obtaining the second data comprises receiving or determining the second data indicative of a position and/or orientation of at least one body part of the occupant within an interior of the vehicle. In an example, the second data comprises image data, radar data and/or lidar data. Thus, in such an example, the second data may be provided and/or received from an optical camera, a radar unit and/or a lidar unit. According to another example, it is also possible to receive the second data from another data processing apparatus such as a server. The server may be a cloud server. The pressure distribution on the seat of the vehicle as well as the position and/or orientation of at least one body part of the occupant is indicative of a posture, more precisely different aspects of a posture, of the occupant. It is emphasized that the term occupant may comprise both a driver of the vehicle and a passenger of the vehicle. The third data indicative of an incapacitation of the occupant is provided based on the first data and based on the second data. This means that both types of data contribute to the determination and the provision of the third data. Due to the complementarity character of the first data and of the second data, the third data may be provided in an accurate and reliable manner. The first data may particularly be indicative of even small muscle tensions in the lower extremities of the occupant, which may not clearly express themselves in an overall position and/or orientation of a body pa