Attention Monitoring, Basic Function - GF54.30-P-9900A
Model All (CAR)
Overview
This document contains information on:
- General
- Function requirements
- Function
- Functional restrictions
General
Attention Assist can recognize typical signs of fatigue and lack of attention by the driver. It is active in a vehicle speed range from 60 to 200 km/h. If there are indications of fatigue or inattentiveness from the driver, the system warns the driver and prompts him to take a break.
Development of Attention Assist is based on experiences gained from test persons whose different driving behavior was evaluated in daytime and at night.
On vehicles with microsleep event detection, additional driver signs such as facial expressions and blinking are recorded using the driver camera. The system optically and acoustically warns the driver using microsleep event warning and attention monitoring in the event of an imminent microsleep event (long blink).
Function requirements
- Engine in operation or drivetrain operational
- Vehicle in forward travel
Function
Attention Assist evaluates driver fatigue and inattentiveness by analyzing his steering behavior while taking the driving environment into account. In the first 20 min of the journey, the system identifies individual parameters and creates a driver profile.
The system warns the driver optically and acoustically if it determines during the journey that there are deviations from this profile that suggest fatigue or inattentiveness. The driver must acknowledge the microsleep event warning tone.
The driving behavior of the driver is also analyzed when Attention Assist is switched off. If the system is only switched on during the journey, the complete journey after start is taken into consideration.
The microsleep event detection subfunction is only available in combination with the driver camera.
Essentially, the following influencing factors are evaluated:
- Time of day
- Driving time and speed
- Steering movements
- Vehicle longitudinal and lateral acceleration as well as yaw rate
- Control interventions by the driver, e.g. on the multimedia system, the on-board computer, or the steering column adjustment
- Analysis of the driver's eye behavior and blink pattern using the driver camera in the driver display (only with microsleep event detection)
The time of day is checked for plausibility via the ambient brightness. In the event of a twilight transition implausible for the time of day, an entry is made in the diagnostic memory.
If the analysis of the evaluation criteria reveals certain steering and behavior patterns which frequently occur in the case of fatigue, the system prompts the driver to take a break soon. A coffee cup symbol advises a break and a warning tone sounds. At the same time, the multimedia system offers to search for a highway rest stop.
A 5-stage circular display in the driver display shows the driver their current attention level, as well as the time elapsed since their last break.
Attention Assist can be set to two sensitivity levels:
- Standard: Attention Assist reacts with normal sensitivity.
- Sensitive: Attention Assist reacts with higher sensitivity. The driver is warned earlier and the attention level identified by the system is adjusted accordingly.
- Off: Warning output is suppressed in "Off" mode and no additional displays are shown.
The last selected sensitivity level is reactivated after an ignition cycle. If the system has been switched off, the coffee cup symbol appears with inscription "OFF".
The driver can call up the following additional information via the "Info page" in the multimedia system:
- Attention level (display, 5-stage)
- Driving time since last ignition cycle (in hours and minutes)
- Passive attention level monitoring (e.g. vehicle speed less than 60 or more than 200 km/h)
When the system is passive, the message "System Passive" is displayed in addition to the driving time since the start of the journey and the display of the attention level. Microsleep event detection can be switched off.
Functional restrictions
Attention monitoring may also be impaired in the following situations:
- For a sporty driving style or in active driving situations (high cornering speeds, heavy acceleration, lane changes)
- For extremely poor road condition (surface undulations, pot holes) or consistently strong crosswinds
- When operating the CENTRAL MEDIA DISPLAY or during telephone calls
- With Active Steering Assist of Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
Microsleep event detection does not work or may be impaired if:
- Eyes are concealed by unfavorable steering column adjustment
- In unfavorable light conditions, glasses or sun glasses
- View direction outside driver camera's field of view
| Function schematics | |||
| Monitor attention, function schematic | Model 118, 167, 177, 243, 247, 293 Model 213 238, 257, 290 as of model year 2021 | PE54.30-P-2501-97A | |
| Model 223, 297 | PE54.30-P-2501-97B | ||
| Model 192, 206, 214, 232, 254, 294, 295, 296 | PE54.30-P-2501-97C | ||
| Additional basic functions | |||
| Driver activity detection, basic function | GF54.30-P-1000A | ||
| Detailed information | |||
| Functional limitations of attention monitoring, detailed information | GF54.30-P-0020-01A |