**9.2 Philosophy of the system**

*9.2.1 Assistance/adaptive automation (balancing safety and driver persistence/ quality of life)*

The proposed co-pilot system carefully reconciles the potential conflict between two goals—(1) ensuring road safety and (2) promoting driver persistence (i.e. enabling an older driver to continue driving, even if there is a risk of a serious accident given the drivers' medical background). Overall, the technology is designed to provide different levels of assistance/automation to drivers so that accidents are avoided (i.e. safety). Three levels of assistance are proposed.

	- An alert to the driver
	- Adjusting car settings
	- Auto-braking/speed reduction

**Figure 1.** *High level principles.*

	- Auto-park and engine stop
	- External warnings to other road users
	- Alerts to emergency services

To this end, we are proposing assistance (i.e. adaptive automation) and not full automation. Normally, the older adult driver chooses the level of task assistance required. However, the system also recommends different levels of assistance based on the driver's profile (level of ability), and real time context (i.e. driver state and driver behaviour). In particular circumstance, if the system detects that (1) the driver is in a seriously impaired state (i.e. alcohol or medications), (2) there is a potential for a safety critical event, or (3) the driver is incapacitated, then authority moves to 'automation'. Accordingly, the proposed co-pilot system is both reactive and predictive.

### *9.2.2 Universal design*

The system is designed to be usable, accessible, and understood by people of all ages with different abilities and health conditions. To this end, the system/co-pilot system provides three levels of assistance, taking into account the diverse driving situations and needs of different drivers (including older adult drivers).

### *9.2.3 Positive ageing and self-efficacy*

The proposed co-pilot system is premised on concepts of successful/positive ageing and self-efficacy. Although certain conditions occur in old age (and impact on the driving task), old age itself is not a disease. Ageing (and the associated changes in functional, sensory and cognitive function) is a normal part of life. To

**35**

*Ethical Issues in the New Digital Era: The Case of Assisting Driving*

*9.2.4 Ability, adaption and assistance (not automation)*

*9.2.5 Interpretation of driver profile and real-time context*

*9.2.6 Focus on interpretation challenges and not conditions/state*

interpretation challenges. These include.

3.Distraction and concurrent task management

1.Task support/feedback

4.Fatigue and drowsiness

6.Heart attack/stroke

2.Activation/flow

5.Intoxication

older adults can do as opposed to focusing on declining capacities.

this end, the system seeks to normalise ageing, and not treat ageing as a 'problem' or 'disease'. The driving solution (i.e. car, sensor system, co-pilot and HMI) is designed to optimise the abilities and participation of older adults. That is, it addresses what

The co-pilot is conceptualised as a means/intervention to ensure that older adults drive safely and for longer. Critically, the technology supports continued and safe driving for all adults, including those adults at risk of limiting their driving and/or giving up. Accordingly, concepts of ability, adaption and assistance (as opposed to vehicle automation) underpin the system logic. To achieve this, the proposed technology provides different levels of assistance, tailored to the older adults (1) ability, (2) health and (3) the real-time physical and psychological/emotional health. In general, this will deliver benefits for the wider population and not

The ability of the driver to perform the driving task depends on the driver's ability (i.e. functional, sensory and cognitive), his or her driving experience and the 'real time' state of the driver (i.e. health, level of fatigue, emotional state, etc.) and the operational context (i.e. cabin context, road context, weather and traffic). Thus, to provide targeted task support to the driver, the system combines (1) an understanding of the driver's profile (i.e. ability and driving experience) and (2) an interpretation of the real time context (i.e. the state of the driver and the

The critical objective for the system is not to precisely diagnose the drivers' condition/state but to interpret the implications for the driving task and the driver. According, the driving assistance system logic addresses 'interpretation challenges' rather than the driver condition or state. This is achieved in relation to six high-level

*9.2.7 A learning system will enable driver persistence and a positive driver experience*

Underpinning the system logic, is a vision of the co-pilot as a learning system. Arguably, a human-centric design philosophy necessitates continuous learning on the behalf of the co-pilot (i.e. including AI/machine learning). If the co-pilot can

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88371*

just older adults.

operational context).

*Security and Privacy From a Legal, Ethical, and Technical Perspective*

• Temporary co-pilot in charge

• Auto-park and engine stop

• Alerts to emergency services

• External warnings to other road users

3.Safety critical intervention—the driver's health and/or safety are at immediate risk; the co-pilot needs to make a strong intervention. This could include:

To this end, we are proposing assistance (i.e. adaptive automation) and not full automation. Normally, the older adult driver chooses the level of task assistance required. However, the system also recommends different levels of assistance based on the driver's profile (level of ability), and real time context (i.e. driver state and driver behaviour). In particular circumstance, if the system detects that (1) the driver is in a seriously impaired state (i.e. alcohol or medications), (2) there is a potential for a safety critical event, or (3) the driver is incapacitated, then authority moves to 'automation'. Accordingly, the proposed co-pilot system is both reactive and predictive.

The system is designed to be usable, accessible, and understood by people of all ages with different abilities and health conditions. To this end, the system/co-pilot system provides three levels of assistance, taking into account the diverse driving

The proposed co-pilot system is premised on concepts of successful/positive ageing and self-efficacy. Although certain conditions occur in old age (and impact on the driving task), old age itself is not a disease. Ageing (and the associated changes in functional, sensory and cognitive function) is a normal part of life. To

situations and needs of different drivers (including older adult drivers).

• Task assistance • Task information

**Figure 1.**

*High level principles.*

*9.2.2 Universal design*

*9.2.3 Positive ageing and self-efficacy*

**34**

this end, the system seeks to normalise ageing, and not treat ageing as a 'problem' or 'disease'. The driving solution (i.e. car, sensor system, co-pilot and HMI) is designed to optimise the abilities and participation of older adults. That is, it addresses what older adults can do as opposed to focusing on declining capacities.
