Autonomous Mode Activation via Repurposed Cruise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of autonomous driving features in vehicles often confuses drivers due to the need to learn new controls, posing a safety hazard as they attempt to use unfamiliar components while driving.
Innovation Solution
Repurposing existing vehicle controls, such as the cruise control stem or lever, to activate and deactivate autonomous mode, and utilizing microphone controls for recording functions, along with a drive-by-wire notification system for visual and audio feedback, to simplify the operation of autonomous vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new non-standard components are added to control autonomous driving functions, then the autonomous driving capability is enhanced, but the driver confusion and safety hazard increase due to the need to learn new controls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling existing vehicle controls (cruise control lever, steering wheel buttons, microphone controls) to perform multiple functions - both their traditional functions and new autonomous driving activation functions. This allows the system to gain new capabilities without adding dedicated new controls, thereby maintaining ease of operation while enhancing adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If existing vehicle controls are repurposed to activate autonomous mode, then the ease of operation is improved by using familiar controls, but the device complexity increases due to reconfiguration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by programming existing controls to trigger autonomous mode activation. The cruise control lever, steering wheel buttons, and microphone controls are all configured to serve dual purposes - their original functions plus autonomous mode activation - thereby improving ease of operation while managing device complexity through software configuration rather than hardware redesign.
3Reliability
If cruise control controls are physically decoupled from the activator mechanism, then the reliability is improved by preventing unintended cruise control activation, but the ease of operation may be reduced by separating related functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by physically decoupling the cruise control controls from the activator mechanism. This separation ensures that when the driver activates autonomous mode using the activator, the cruise control system does not inadvertently activate. The segmentation isolates the activation function from the cruise control function, improving reliability by preventing unintended activations while maintaining operational clarity.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, mechanisms already in vehicles may be substantially repurposed or reconfigured to facilitate autonomous driving. Cruise control controls, e.g, a cruise control stem or stick, in a vehicle may be configured for use to activate and to deactivate an autonomous mode in the vehicle. By repurposing cruise control controls to activate and to deactivate an autonomous mode, drivers may efficiently activate and deactivate the autonomous mode while a vehicle operates, a vehicle includes an autonomy system, an activator mechanism, and a cruise control system. The autonomy system is configured to enable the vehicle to operate in an autonomous mode when the autonomy system is in an active state. The activator mechanism including a toggle having a first toggle state and a second toggle state. The toggle is in communication with the autonomy system to activate the active state when the toggle is in the first toggle state and to deactivate the active state when the toggle is in the second toggle state The cruise control system is arranged to be engaged to cause a speed of the vehicle to be automatically controlled, wherein the cruise control system is physically decoupled from the activator mechanism.