Autonomous Vehicle Button Interface for Safe Trip Start and Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous vehicle systems lack intuitive and safe user input mechanisms for initiating and terminating trips, particularly in the absence of traditional steering, acceleration, and braking controls, and require improved emergency stopping solutions to prevent accidental activation.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle incorporates a set of user input buttons with multiple states for initiating and terminating trips, including a dual-purpose button for starting and stopping, and an emergency stopping button with a cover to prevent accidental activation, along with wireless network connections for communication with client and server devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If traditional steering, acceleration, and braking controls are removed from autonomous vehicles, then automation level is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of intuitive user input mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional steering wheels, acceleration pedals, and braking controls from the vehicle interior, extracting only the essential user input functions needed for autonomous operation. This eliminates complex manual controls while retaining simplified button interfaces for trip initiation and termination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service through automated vehicle operation where the computing devices autonomously control steering, acceleration, and braking without human intervention. The vehicle serves itself by making driving decisions based on sensor data and pre-programmed routes.
2Speed
If emergency stopping button is made easily accessible, then response time is improved, but harmful factors increase due to risk of accidental activation
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency stopping button is nested within a protective cover structure that requires deliberate action to access. The button is embedded inside a recessed area with a removable or movable cover, creating a nested configuration that prevents accidental contact while maintaining quick access when intentionally needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover structure serves as a preliminary anti-action mechanism that prevents accidental activation before it can occur. The cover must be deliberately removed or opened before the button can be pressed, creating a preliminary barrier against unintended emergency stopping.
3Device complexity
If dual-purpose button is used for both trip initiation and stopping, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to ambiguous button states
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-purpose button dynamically changes its function based on the current vehicle state. When the vehicle is stationary and ready for departure, the button serves as trip initiation. When the vehicle is in motion, the same button serves as trip termination. The system adaptively switches the button's purpose based on operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The button incorporates visual indicators such as color changes or illumination patterns to communicate its current state and available function. Different colors or light patterns indicate whether the button should be pressed for trip initiation or trip termination, providing clear visual feedback to users.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle for maneuvering a passenger to a destination autonomously. The vehicle includes one or more computing devices and a set of user input buttons for communicating requests to stop the vehicle and to initiate a trip to the destination with the one or more computing devices. The set of user input buttons consisting essentially of a dual-purpose button and an emergency stopping button different from the dual-purpose button configured to stop the vehicle. The dual-purpose button has a first purpose for communicating a request to initiate the trip to the destination and a second purpose for communicating a request to pull the vehicle over and stop the vehicle. The vehicle has no steering wheel and no user inputs for the steering, acceleration, and deceleration of the vehicle other than the set of user input buttons.