Vehicle control method for adapting dynamic vehicle performance to the psychophysical condition of the driver

1. A method of controlling a driver-operated vehicle, in which the driver controls the vehicle by acting physically on a number of control devices, the positions of which are recorded by respective sensors and transmitted to an electronic central control unit, which interprets the positions by means of corresponding transfer functions; the method comprising the steps of:

recording the values of a number of psychophysical parameters of the driver over a first measuring interval;

making a first evaluation of the driver's psychophysical condition on the basis of the driver's psychophysical parameter values over the first measuring interval;

recording the values of the driver's psychophysical parameters over a second measuring interval following the first measuring interval;

making a second evaluation of the driver's psychophysical condition on the basis of the driver's psychophysical parameter values over the second measuring interval;

comparing the first and second evaluation of the driver's psychophysical condition to determine a change in the driver's psychophysical condition; and

modifying the dynamic performance of the vehicle as a function of the driver's psychophysical condition, to adapt dynamic performance of the vehicle to the change in the driver's psychophysical condition;

the method is characterized in that it comprises the further steps of:

comparing the first and second evaluation of the driver's psychophysical condition to determine whether the change in the driver's psychophysical condition tends towards satisfaction or dissatisfaction and towards excitement or relaxation;

increasing response of the vehicle to driver control, if the change in the driver's psychophysical condition tends towards satisfaction or tends towards excitement, by adjusting the gain of the transfer functions to have a more direct and faster response to driving commands;

reducing response of the vehicle to driver control, if the change in the driver's psychophysical condition tends towards dissatisfaction or towards relaxation, by adjusting the gain of the transfer functions to have a less direct and slower response to driving commands;

making no change in response of the vehicle to driver control, if the satisfaction/dissatisfaction or excitement/relaxation change between the two evaluations of the driver's psychophysical condition is insignificant;

evaluating the driver's satisfaction/dissatisfaction level by analysing the values of physical parameters of the driver; and

evaluating the driver's excitement/relaxation level by analysing the values of gestural parameters of the driver.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , and comprising the further step of allowing a time lapse between the end of the first measuring interval and the start of the second measuring interval.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the physical parameters of the driver used to evaluate the satisfaction/dissatisfaction level comprise heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductivity.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gestural parameters of the driver used to evaluate the excitement/relaxation level comprise how often the controls of the vehicle are operated, and how fast the controls of the vehicle are operated.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , and comprising the further steps of:

determining the context in which the vehicle is driven;

making an evaluation of the driver's psychophysical condition on the basis of the driver's psychophysical parameter values over the relative measuring interval, and as a function of the context in which the vehicle ( 1 ) is driven over the relative measuring interval.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 , and comprising the further steps of:

recording the performance time pattern of the vehicle and/or the location of the vehicle ( 1 );

determining the context in which the vehicle is driven as a function of the performance time pattern of the vehicle and/or of the location of the vehicle.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein increasing response of the vehicle to driver control comprises delaying and/or reducing intervention of various electronic driving-aid devices; and, conversely, reducing response of the vehicle to driver control comprises accelerating and/or increasing intervention of various electronic driving-aid devices.