BACKGROUND

The current embodiment relates to motor vehicles and in particular to a system and method for responding to driver state.

Motor vehicles are operated by drivers in various conditions. Lack of sleep, monotonous road conditions, use of items, or health-related conditions can increase the likelihood that a driver can become drowsy or inattentive while driving. Drowsy or inattentive drivers can have delayed reaction times.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a method of controlling vehicle systems in a motor vehicle includes, receiving monitoring information from one or more monitoring systems, determining a plurality of driver states based on the monitoring information from the one or more monitoring systems and determining a combined driver state index based on the plurality of driver states. The method also includes modifying control of one or more vehicle systems based on the combined driver state index.

In another aspect, a method of controlling vehicle systems in a motor vehicle includes, receiving monitoring information from one or more monitoring systems, determining a first driver state and a second driver state based on the monitoring information from the one or more monitoring systems and determining a combined driver state index based on the first driver state and the second driver state. The method also includes modifying the control of one or more vehicle systems based on the combined driver state index.

In another aspect, a method of controlling vehicle systems in a motor vehicle includes, receiving monitoring information from one or more monitoring systems, determining a plurality of driver states based on the monitoring information from the one or more monitoring systems and determining a combined driver state index based on the plurality of driver states. The method also includes modifying control of one or more vehicle systems based on the combined driver state index.

In another aspect, a method of controlling vehicle systems in a motor vehicle includes, receiving monitoring information from one or more monitoring systems, determining a plurality of driver states based on the monitoring information from the one or more monitoring systems and determining a combined driver state index based on the plurality of driver states. The method also includes operating one or more vehicle system based on the combined driver state index.

In another aspect, a method of controlling vehicle systems in a motor vehicle includes, receiving monitoring information from a plurality of monitoring systems, determining a plurality of driver states based on the monitoring information from the plurality of monitoring systems and determining a combined driver state index based on the plurality of driver states. The method also includes operating one or more vehicle systems based on the combined driver state index.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the embodiments, and be protected by the following claims.

