Autonomous Drive-Through Edge Device Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive-through systems require users to manually position themselves outside their vehicles to interact with the system, leading to inconvenience, especially in extreme weather conditions and due to the lack of seamless mobile device pairing for payments.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous drive-through system that uses sensors and/or camera devices to detect the user's face inside a vehicle, calibrating the edge device's position to bring it closer to the user, enabling voice-based interaction and real-time visual feedback without the user needing to exit their vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the microphone and display are positioned outside the vehicle at fixed locations, then the system structure is simple, but the user must manually exit the vehicle to interact with the system, reducing ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Dynamics principle by making the display and microphone positioning dynamic rather than fixed. The system uses sensors to detect the user's face position inside the vehicle and dynamically adjusts the display angle and microphone orientation to optimize interaction. This allows the interface elements to move and adapt to the user's position, eliminating the need for the user to exit the vehicle while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure.
2Measurement precision
If the edge device is positioned far from the user, then the system installation is simple, but the voice capture and visual feedback quality deteriorates, reducing measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Feedback principle by using sensors to continuously monitor the user's face position and providing real-time feedback to adjust the display and microphone positioning. The system detects the user's location, calculates the optimal positioning parameters, and adjusts the edge device components accordingly to maintain high voice capture quality and visual feedback clarity, regardless of the initial distance between the device and user.
3Productivity
If the system requires manual positioning of the user to the microphone and display, then the device structure is simple, but the interaction time increases, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Self-service principle by enabling the system to automatically detect the user's position and adjust its components without requiring the user to manually position themselves. The sensors autonomously track the user's face location, and the system self-adjusts the display angle and microphone orientation, eliminating the time-consuming manual positioning process and significantly improving service transaction speed.
4Reliability
If the microphone is positioned away from the user's face, then the system installation is easier, but the voice signal quality deteriorates due to background noise and weather conditions, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Preliminary action principle by proactively positioning the microphone and display optimally before the user needs to interact with the system. The sensors detect the user's face position in advance, and the system pre-adjusts the microphone orientation and display angle to ensure high voice capture quality and visual feedback clarity, preventing the degradation that would occur with fixed positioning in noisy or adverse weather conditions.
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
The system allows for efficient, hands-free interaction with drive-through services, including food ordering and ATM transactions, by positioning the device optimally for user interaction, enhancing convenience and usability across various conditions.
Implementation Method 1
sensors and/or camera device for autonomously detecting the position of the user's face in the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
at least one motor placed in the system for facilitating the motion in all three axis of the edge device
Implementation Method 3
a microphone connected with the main controller circuit to enable voice based interaction of the user with the edge device
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to an autonomous drive through system and method for autonomously detecting the position of the user's face in a vehicle and through AI and robotic technology, calibrating the height, distance, and direction/orientation (x, y, z axis) of the interface associated with the device, bringing the interface closer to the user. The user (driver) either through touch screen and/or voice AI and/or pairing with a mobile device can order and/or pay and/or withdraw cash without coming out of their vehicle(s). The system includes one or more sensors, such as a camera, that provides input for autonomously adjusting height of the device with respect to the user (driver) window. Based on the location of the car window, the device adjusts its position via moving horizontally (x-axis) based on the location of the driver's window and adjusts its position vertically along the y-axis to place itself at the eye level of the user. Further, the device adjusts its position along the z-axis moving closer to the user's face allowing the user to have an efficient and convenient interaction with the system.