AI Passenger Detection for Vehicle Seating Configuration Checks

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle systems, including autonomous and human-operated vehicles, struggle with accurately detecting whether passengers are properly seated, leading to false positives and negatives, which can compromise safety.

Innovation Solution

Implementing cameras and artificial intelligence models to capture images and generate passenger data, determining passenger locations and seating configurations, and triggering appropriate actions if seating criteria are not met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional sensor-based systems are used to detect passenger seating, then the system complexity remains low, but the detection accuracy and reliability deteriorate due to false positives and negatives

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger seating detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/physical sensors (weight sensors, pressure sensors) with an optical-based computer vision system using cameras and AI algorithms. This substitution enables more accurate passenger detection and seating position verification by analyzing visual data rather than relying on indirect physical measurements, thereby improving detection accuracy while managing system complexity through software-based solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an AI-based image processing system as an intermediary between the camera input and the passenger detection output. This intermediary layer processes images to identify passengers, determine their seating positions, and verify proper seating configuration, thereby enhancing detection reliability without directly increasing hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If AI models and cameras are implemented to accurately detect passenger seating, then detection reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger seating detection reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/physical sensors (weight sensors, pressure sensors) with an optical-based computer vision system using cameras and AI algorithms. This substitution enables more accurate passenger detection and seating position verification by analyzing visual data rather than relying on indirect physical measurements, thereby improving detection accuracy while managing system complexity through software-based solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The AI-based passenger detection system is integrated directly into the vehicle's existing sensor network and control systems. The system automatically processes images, identifies passengers, determines seating positions, and triggers appropriate vehicle responses without requiring external intervention or additional complex infrastructure, thereby improving reliability while containing complexity growth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If traditional sensor systems are used for vehicle operation control, then the system remains simple to operate, but safety deteriorates due to inaccurate passenger detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoidsafety risks from false detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the AI-based passenger detection system continuously monitors seating configurations and provides real-time information to the vehicle's control system. The system can trigger alerts, prevent vehicle operation, or adjust safety features based on detected seating conditions, thereby improving safety without significantly complicating the user interface or operation流程.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an AI-based image processing system as an intermediary between the camera input and the passenger detection output. This intermediary layer processes images to identify passengers, determine their seating positions, and verify proper seating configuration, thereby enhancing detection reliability without directly increasing hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4632690A1Using artificial intelligence to detect passengers in a vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 WAYMO LLC

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AI summary

The described aspects and implementations use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect passengers in a vehicle. A method of an implementation includes obtaining one or more images captured by one or more cameras of a vehicle. The method includes generating, using one or more artificial intelligence models and the one or more images, passenger data indicating locations of one or more passengers of the vehicle. The method includes generating, based on the passenger data, vehicle area data indicating one or more areas of the vehicle at which the one or more passengers are located. The method includes determining, based on the passenger data and the vehicle area data, whether at least one passenger seating configuration criterion is satisfied. The method includes, responsive to determining that such a criterion is satisfied, causing the vehicle to perform an action associated with a passenger seating configuration in the vehicle.