US 12,269,494 B2
Vehicle operator awareness system
Richard Brian Donnelly, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Philipp Haban, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Christopher Matthew D'Eramo, Bethel Park, PA (US); Chad Jonathan Staller, Verona, PA (US); Clifford Shaun Webb, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Douglas Dallesandro, Bethel Park, PA (US)
Assigned to Aurora Operations, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by Aurora Operations, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/121,199.
Application 17/121,199 is a continuation of application No. 16/154,264, filed on Oct. 8, 2018, granted, now 10,864,920.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/725,526, filed on Aug. 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0094820 A1, Apr. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. B60W 50/14 (2020.01); B60K 35/00 (2024.01); B60K 35/28 (2024.01); B60W 40/08 (2012.01); B60W 40/09 (2012.01); B81B 3/00 (2006.01); F16F 1/26 (2006.01); G06V 20/56 (2022.01)
CPC B60W 50/14 (2013.01) [B60K 35/00 (2013.01); B60W 40/08 (2013.01); B60W 40/09 (2013.01); B81B 3/0035 (2013.01); B81B 3/0072 (2013.01); G06V 20/56 (2022.01); B60K 35/28 (2024.01); B60W 2040/0818 (2013.01); B60W 2050/143 (2013.01); B60W 2050/146 (2013.01); B81B 2201/02 (2013.01); B81B 2201/0235 (2013.01); B81B 2201/0242 (2013.01); B81B 2203/0109 (2013.01); B81B 2203/0118 (2013.01); B81B 2203/0163 (2013.01); B81B 2203/053 (2013.01); F16F 1/26 (2013.01); F16F 2230/0005 (2013.01); F16F 2232/08 (2013.01); F16F 2238/022 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method of generating an awareness challenge for a vehicle operator, comprising:
providing, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, a prompt of an awareness challenge to an operator of a vehicle;
initiating, by the computing system, a timer measuring an elapsed time from a start time of a challenge response interval;
communicating, by the computing system, to the operator of the vehicle a soft notification indicative of the awareness challenge during the challenge response interval, wherein the soft notification includes a changing visual stimulus implemented by a series of lights that changes in proportion to the elapsed time by sequentially illuminating or dulling the series of lights in proportion to the elapsed time, wherein a number of illuminated lights in the series of lights is indicative of an elapsed time within the challenge response interval;
determining, by the computing system, whether a user input action for satisfying the awareness challenge has been provided by the operator of the vehicle within the challenge response interval;
detecting, by the computing system, that the elapsed time has reached a safety time threshold, wherein the safety time threshold identifies an amount of elapsed time after expiration of the challenge response interval; and
in response to detecting the elapsed time corresponds to the safety time threshold, initiating, by the computing system, a safety stop routine.