Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Feedback for Obstructed Views
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in navigating view-obstructed environments, as sensors may detect objects outside the occupant's visible area, leading to potential safety concerns and reduced occupant confidence.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize sensors and processors to detect objects in the external environment, determine the occupant's viewable area, and initiate alerts or modify driving actions when objects are outside this area, ensuring safe operation and enhanced occupant confidence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors detect objects outside the occupant's visible area, then the autonomous vehicle's detection capability is improved, but occupant confidence and safety perception deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the occupant by presenting information about detected objects through displays or audio outputs. This feedback loop allows the occupant to understand what the sensors have detected, thereby maintaining confidence while benefiting from expanded detection capability beyond the visible area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (display device or audio output) that mediates between the sensor detection and the occupant's perception. This intermediary translates sensor data into comprehensible information for the occupant, bridging the gap between machine detection and human understanding.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the autonomous vehicle operates in view-obstructed environments, then the vehicle's operational versatility is improved, but safety risks increase due to limited occupant visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of objects outside the occupant's visible area before they become a safety concern. By detecting objects in advance through sensors and providing information to the occupant, the system enables proactive safety measures rather than reactive responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously provides feedback to the occupant about the environment detected by sensors, enabling the occupant to make informed decisions about safety. This feedback mechanism allows the vehicle to operate in diverse environments while maintaining safety through informed occupant awareness.
Data Source
AI summary
Arrangements related to operating an autonomous vehicle in view-obstructed environments are described. At least a portion of an external environment of the autonomous vehicle can be sensed to detect one or more objects located therein. An occupant viewable area of the external environment can be determined. It can be determined whether one or more of the detected one or more objects is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area. Responsive to determining that a detected object is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area, one or more actions can be taken. For instance, the action can include presenting an alert within the autonomous vehicle. Alternatively or in addition, the action can include causing a current driving action of the autonomous vehicle to be modified.