Weighted two-dimensional longitudinal impedance for driving support system

Visual cues that are relevant to safe car driving are generally not supported by redundant non-visual cues, resulting in increased accident risk when visual attention is misallocated. Haptic gas pedal feedback, also referred to as longitudinal impedance, may assist drivers in proper and timely reallocation of their visual attention. A solution is presented for translating the relevant two-dimensional situation in front of the driver into a total hazard level from which gas pedal feedback force is calculated. Car driving simulations, that include a radar-like sensor model and a human driver model, were performed for several highway maneuvers. The simulations indicated that the calculated gas pedal feedback force is a weighted mix of hazard-defining variables depending on the positions of the lead vehicles in front of the own vehicle