Adaptive Vehicle Lamp System for Road User Gaze Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles lack effective methods to communicate with other road users, such as pedestrians, regarding intended actions and coordination, which is impractical for human operators to manage in all situations.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines a road user's gaze direction using sensor data to predict their actions and adjusts the color or direction of a vehicle's lamp to communicate intentions, such as indicating priority with color changes or beam movements, allowing the vehicle to perform coordinated maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a vehicle uses fixed headlamps for illumination, then the lighting function is simple and reliable, but the vehicle cannot effectively communicate with other road users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the lamp system adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The control system dynamically modifies lamp parameters (color, direction, intensity) based on detected road user characteristics and context, enabling communication while maintaining system reliability through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the lamp system including color temperature (warm vs cool white), illumination direction, and intensity levels. These parameter changes encode different communication messages to road users, transforming the lamp from a simple illumination device to an information communication channel
2Loss of information
If the vehicle adjusts lamp color and direction to communicate with road users, then communication effectiveness improves, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control system operates autonomously by automatically detecting road users, analyzing their characteristics (age, mobility, gaze direction), determining appropriate communication messages, and executing lamp adjustments without human intervention. This self-service approach manages complexity through automation rather than manual control
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor feedback (cameras, LIDAR, microphones) to continuously monitor road user responses and environmental context, adjusting lamp communication in real-time. This closed-loop feedback ensures communication effectiveness while managing complexity through adaptive control based on actual road user reactions
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle uses multiple lamp functions for communication, then adaptability to different road users improves, but the system requires more sophisticated control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication function into distinct lamp modes (warm white for vulnerability indication, cool white for priority assertion, directional beams for gaze following). Each segment handles a specific communication purpose, making the complex adaptive system manageable through functional decomposition
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp system serves multiple functions: illumination, vulnerability communication, priority communication, and engagement tracking. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single integrated control system that selects appropriate lamp modes based on road user characteristics, avoiding the need for separate dedicated devices for each function
Data Source
AI summary
A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating a road user, determine a gaze direction of the road user based on the sensor data, and adjust at least one of a color or direction of a lamp of a vehicle based on the gaze direction.