Assessment device, storage medium storing computer program for assessment, and assessment method for detecting driver control of a steering wheel through auxiliary control inputs

1 . An assessment method carried out by an assessment device, the method comprising:

determining that a touch detection signal has not been received from a touch sensor, the touch sensor being configured to detect a touch of a driver,

in response to determining that the touch detection signal has not been received from the touch sensor, determining whether the driver is in control of the steering wheel based on whether an operation signal has been input from an operating unit, different from the touch sensor, that is configured to (i) be operated by a hand of the driver that is holding the steering wheel and (ii) output the operation signal for operating a display device or an audio device of the vehicle, and

based on the determination of whether the driver is in control of the steering wheel, notifying an autonomous control device by transmitting acknowledgement information to the autonomous control device, configured to control operations of a vehicle the driver is in, to control the vehicle to switch from an autonomous control mode in which the vehicle is driving by autonomous control to a manual control mode, wherein the autonomous control device, in response to receiving the acknowledgement information, switches the vehicle from the autonomous control mode to the manual control mode in which the vehicle is driving based on manipulation by the driver, wherein

determining that the touch detection signal has not been received from the touch sensor indicates that the touch sensor has failed.

2 . A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing a computer program for assessment, wherein the computer program causes a processor to execute a process, the process comprising:

determining whether a touch detection signal has been received from a touch sensor, the touch sensor being configured to detect a touch of a driver,

in response to determining that the touch detection signal has been received from the touch sensor, determining whether the driver is in control of a steering wheel based on the touch detection signal,

in response to determining that the touch detection signal has not been received from the touch sensor, determining whether the driver is in control of the steering wheel based on whether an operation signal has been input from an operating unit, different from the touch sensor, that is configured to (i) be operated by a hand of the driver that is holding the steering wheel and (ii) output the operation signal for operating a display device or an audio device of the vehicle, and

based on the determination of whether the driver is in control of the steering wheel, notifying an autonomous control device by transmitting acknowledgement information to the autonomous control device, configured to control operations of a vehicle the driver is in, to control the vehicle to switch from an autonomous control mode in which the vehicle is driving by autonomous control to a manual control mode, wherein the autonomous control device, in response to receiving the acknowledgement information, switches the vehicle from the autonomous control mode to the manual control mode in which the vehicle is driving based on manipulation by the driver, wherein

determining that the touch detection signal has not been received from the touch sensor indicates that the touch sensor has failed.

3 . An assessment device comprising:

a processor configured to:

determine whether a touch detection signal has been received from a touch sensor, the touch sensor being configured to detect a touch of a driver,

in response to determining that the touch detection signal has been received from the touch sensor, determining whether the driver is in control of a steering wheel based on the touch detection signal,

in response to determining that the touch detection signal has not been received from the touch sensor, determine whether the driver is in control of the steering wheel based on whether an operation signal has been input from an operating unit, different from the touch sensor, that is configured to (i) be operated by a hand of the driver that is holding the steering wheel and (ii) output the operation signal for operating a display device or an audio device of the vehicle, and

based on the determination of whether the driver is in control of the steering wheel, notify an autonomous control device by transmitting acknowledgement information to the autonomous control device, configured to control operations of a vehicle the driver is in, to control the vehicle to switch from an autonomous control mode in which the vehicle is driving by autonomous control to a manual control mode, wherein the autonomous control device, in response to receiving the acknowledgement information, switches the vehicle from the autonomous control mode to the manual control mode in which the vehicle is driving based on manipulation by the driver, wherein

determining that the touch detection signal has not been received from the touch sensor indicates that the touch sensor has failed.

4 . The assessment device according to claim 3 , wherein the operating unit is operated by the driver and inputs operation information to change the gear ratio of the transmission.

5 . The assessment device according to claim 4 , wherein the operating unit has a first shift operating unit that is operated by the driver and outputs a first operation signal for a change that increases the gear ratio of the transmission, and a second shift operating unit that is operated by the driver and outputs a second operation signal for a change that decreases the gear ratio of the transmission, and

the processor is further configured to determine that the driver is in control of the steering wheel when the first operation signal has been input from the first shift operating unit and the second operation signal has been input from the second shift operating unit.

6 . The assessment device according to claim 3 , wherein when no touch detection signal is received from the touch sensor, the processor determines that the touch sensor has malfunctioned, the malfunction preventing generation of the touch detection signal, and in response, performs the determination of whether the driver is in control of the steering wheel based on whether the operation signal from the operating unit has been input.

7 . The assessment device according to claim 3 , wherein the operating unit is situated (i) on the steering wheel and configured to rotate together with the steering wheel or (ii) on a spoke part of the steering wheel.

8 . The assessment device according to claim 3 , wherein, in response to determining that the touch detection signal has been received from the touch sensor, the processor determines that the driver is in control of the steering wheel based only on the touch detection signal, without determining whether the operation signal from the operating unit has been input.