Driver psychophysiological state detection

1 . A method of collecting data for determining a psychophysiological state of a human driver, comprising:

collecting data throughout a driving session, wherein the driving session comprises driving on a predetermined route by a driver in an automotive vehicle, wherein the predetermined route is divided into a plurality of route sections comprising a first route section having a first driving environment and a second route section having a second environment, and wherein one of the first and second driving environments is a higher-complexity driving environment and the other of the first and second driving environments is a lower-complexity driving environment;

wherein the driving session comprises a plurality of driving breaks, each break following immediately after driving in a respective route section is complete, wherein during each driving break a respective detection response task (DRT) is performed by the driver, wherein each DRT comprises the driver reacting to at least one visual stimulus; and wherein said collecting data comprises:

collecting, by a plurality of detection means, physiological data on the driver throughout a predetermined time period; wherein the physiological data collected comprises at least one of: heart rate data, eye movement data, and respiration data; and

collecting driver behaviour data, comprising:

recording the driver's reaction to the at least one visual stimulus during the plurality of DRTs.

2 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of route sections further comprises a third route section having a third driving environment, wherein the third driving environment is an intermediate-complexity driving environment.

3 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the higher-complexity driving environment is an urban environment, and the lower-complexity driving environment is a highway environment.

4 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the each DRT comprises the driver reacting to the at least one visual stimulus, and wherein said recording the driver's reaction comprises at least one of: recording a response time of the user in reaction to a visual stimulus, a number of correct responses, and a number of incorrect responses.

5 . The method in accordance with claim 4 , wherein in at least one of the plurality of DRTs, at least one false stimulus is provided to the driver that the driver is instructed to ignore; wherein the visual stimulus comprises a visual indication in a first colour, and the false stimulus comprises a visual indication in a second colour different from the first colour.

6 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a duration to complete driving in each of the plurality of route sections is between 10 and 20 minutes, and/or wherein each of the plurality of DRTs has a duration of between 2 and 3 minutes.

7 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein an initial DRT is performed before driving begins.

8 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the driving session takes place after a first period of rest by the driver for a first predetermined duration, and a second period of rest by the driver for a second predetermined duration takes place after the driving session.

9 . The method in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising:

collecting self-reported data before the first period of rest and after the second period of rest.

10 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

collecting self-reported data from the driver in each of the driving breaks after the respective DRT in each driving break, the self-reported data comprising data on at least one of: the driver's psychological state, physical state and prior sleep conditions.

11 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising, before said collection of data, selecting a suitable route comprising multiple sections of different environments corresponding to different levels of complexities based on previously collected data on a plurality of potential routes.

12 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of detection means comprises at least one of: an electrocardiogram (ECG) apparatus for obtaining heart rate data, at least one eye-tracking camera for obtaining eye movement data, at least one camera for obtaining video data of the driver's face, and at least one photoplethysmography sensor to collect blood circulation data.

13 . The method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising:

analysing the physiological data and the driver behaviour data to determine a psychophysiological state of the driver during the driving session.

14 . The method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein analysing the physiological data and driver behaviour data comprises storing the collected data in a memory and/or sending the collected data to a processor for analysis.

15 . A system for collecting data for determining a psychophysiological state of a human driver, comprising:

means for collecting data throughout a driving session, wherein the driving session comprises driving on a predetermined route by a driver in an automotive vehicle, wherein the predetermined route is divided into a plurality of route sections comprising a first route section having a first driving environment and a second route section having a second environment, and wherein one of the first and second driving environments is a higher-complexity driving environment and the other of the first and second driving environments is a lower-complexity driving environment;

wherein the driving session comprises a plurality of driving breaks, each break following immediately after driving in a respective route section is complete, wherein during each driving break a respective detection response task (DRT) is performed by the driver, and wherein each DRT comprises the driver reacting to at least one visual stimulus;

wherein the means for collecting data comprises:

a plurality of detection means for collecting physiological data on the driver throughout a predetermined time period; wherein the physiological data collected comprises at least one of: heart rate data, eye movement data, and respiration data; and

means for collecting driver behaviour data, comprising:

recording the driver's reaction to the at least one visual stimulus during the plurality of DRTs.

16 . A method of collecting data for determining a psychophysiological state of a human driver, comprising:

collecting data throughout a driving session, wherein the driving session comprises driving on a predetermined route by a driver in an automotive vehicle, wherein the predetermined route is divided into a plurality of route sections comprising a first route section having a first driving environment and a second route section having a second environment, and wherein one of the first and second driving environments is a higher-complexity driving environment and the other of the first and second driving environments is a lower-complexity driving environment;

wherein the driving session comprises a plurality of driving breaks, each break following immediately after driving in a respective route section is complete, wherein during each driving break a respective detection response task (DRT) is performed by the driver, wherein each DRT comprises the driver reacting to at least one visual stimulus; and wherein said collecting data comprises:

collecting, by a plurality of detection means, physiological data on the driver throughout a predetermined time period; wherein the physiological data collected comprises one or more of the following: heart rate data, eye movement data, and respiration data; and

collecting driver behaviour data, comprising:

recording the driver's reaction to the at least one visual stimulus during the plurality of DRTs.