Acoustic Driver Confirmation for Autonomous Vehicle Maneuvers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles operating at lower autonomy levels require occupant input for optional decisions like route changes or lane shifts, but existing systems lack a convenient method to solicit and incorporate this input effectively.

Innovation Solution

The use of a vehicle's interior sound system and microphones to generate and receive audible occupant input, allowing the system to request confirmation and adjust operations based on verbal responses, integrating with existing vehicle control systems to execute changes such as lane changes or speed adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the autonomous vehicle system uses existing interfaces (buttons, switches, touchscreens) to solicit occupant input, then the system can receive confirmation for optional maneuvers, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the complexity and inconvenience of requiring physical interaction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of occupant inputVSAvoidcomplexity of input interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical input interfaces (buttons, switches, touchscreens) with an acoustic interface using the vehicle's existing sound system and microphones. The processor generates audible prompts through speakers and detects occupant verbal responses via microphones, substituting mechanical interaction with acoustic communication. This resolves the contradiction by dramatically improving ease of operation while utilizing existing vehicle components rather than adding complex new hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If the autonomous vehicle control system requests confirmation for optional maneuvers, then the reliability of occupant preference incorporation improves, but the loss of time increases due to the additional confirmation step

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of occupant preferenceVSAvoidtime for confirmation process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces time-consuming mechanical interaction (reaching for buttons, pressing switches, touching screens) with rapid acoustic communication. The processor generates audible prompts and detects verbal responses almost instantaneously, leveraging the speed of sound and natural human speech patterns. This acoustic approach maintains reliability by ensuring explicit occupant confirmation while dramatically reducing the time required compared to mechanical interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the vehicle uses dedicated new hardware for audio-based occupant input, then the ease of operation improves through natural verbal communication, but the device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of verbal inputVSAvoidnumber of audio components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by utilizing the vehicle's existing sound system components (speakers for audio output, microphones for audio input) for the new purpose of occupant confirmation. These components already serve other functions in the vehicle (alerts, notifications, ambient sound detection), so repurposing them for verbal confirmation does not increase overall device complexity. The processor integrates these existing components into the autonomous vehicle control system, creating a universal solution that improves ease of operation without adding dedicated hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables safe and convenient incorporation of occupant preferences into autonomous vehicle operations, enhancing user engagement and safety by ensuring driver attention and confirmation before critical maneuvers, thereby improving the overall autonomy experience.

Implementation Method 1

The audio processor is operative to generate an audio signal in response to the request signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 2

The audio processor is then operative to activate the microphone in order to receive a verbal response from the occupant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic transduction:

Data Source

PatentUS10752258B2Apparatus and method for audible driver confirmation for maneuvers in an autonomous vehicle

Publication Date: 2020.08.25 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for autonomous vehicle driver confirmation in a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a situation wherein driver confirmation is desired, acoustically request driver confirmation via vehicle speakers, and receive verbal driver confirmation via vehicle microphones.