Estimation of a driver's stress based on steering admittance measurement

Abstract

Advanced driver assistance systems need to be made adaptive to changes in driver conditions to improve their performance. To achieve this, we require accurate, non-invasive estimates of driver neuromuscular admittance. Previous research has shown correlation between driver grip strength and driver stress and correlation between human neuromuscular admittance and grip strength. Hence, neuromuscular admittance can be estimated for the non-invasive estimation of driver stress. In this research, a method of measuring neuromuscular admittance using sensors of a power steering system is proposed and its performance is examined in an experiment using a driving simulator. Neuromuscular admittance is estimated from the measured feedback torque of the power steering and steering wheel angle, and the feasibility of the system is shown in the case of highway entrance and passing situations.