Autonomous Vehicle Gesture Recognition for Handicapped Passenger Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face difficulties in identifying and assisting customers, particularly those with physical handicaps, when arriving at pick-up locations, due to challenges in customer recognition and facilitating entry into the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
The autonomous vehicle system includes a customer identification system that prompts customers to make a gesture for verification, a parking system for finding suitable parking spots, and a customer guidance system to assist visually impaired customers in locating the vehicle, along with a door positioning mechanism to facilitate entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If autonomous vehicles use standard navigation equipment to travel to pick-up locations, then the vehicle can reach the destination, but the vehicle cannot identify or assist customers, particularly those with physical handicaps
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle integrates multiple functions including navigation, customer identification through gesture recognition, and assistance systems into a single platform. The vehicle's computer system performs both transportation navigation and customer service functions, making the system multi-functional and universal rather than requiring separate specialized systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle employs automatic identification procedures where the system autonomously detects customer gestures, identifies waiting customers, and determines appropriate assistance actions without human intervention. The computer system self-manages the customer service workflow, from detection to execution of assistance tasks.
2Measurement precision
If the autonomous vehicle arrives at a busy pick-up location, then the vehicle can access the customer, but the vehicle encounters difficulties in identifying the customer from amongst a number of people
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a feedback mechanism where the computer system monitors detected gestures in real-time, verifies customer identity through the gesture pattern, and adjusts its identification process based on the detected response. The system continuously scans for gestures and uses the feedback from detected movements to confirm or reject potential customer matches.
Solution Approach 2:
The gesture serves as an intermediary signal between the customer and the vehicle's identification system. Rather than directly identifying customers through visual or audio means alone, the system uses gesture detection as an intermediate step that provides unambiguous confirmation of customer identity, especially in crowded environments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the autonomous vehicle needs to assist physically handicapped customers, then accessibility is improved, but additional capabilities are required beyond standard navigation equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle system dynamically adapts its behavior based on detected customer needs. The computer system modifies its assistance protocols depending on whether the customer requires help with entry, door operation, or seating arrangement. The system's response is dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed, allowing it to handle various accessibility requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle performs preliminary actions to prepare for customer assistance before the customer actually needs it. The system proactively positions the vehicle, prepares door operations, and arranges interior seating in advance based on pre-trip information or initial detection, reducing the complexity of last-minute adjustments.
4Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle uses automatic identification procedures, then customer verification is achieved, but the identification process requires customer gestures and verification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The identification system uses periodic scanning and detection cycles rather than continuous operation. The vehicle scans for gestures at regular intervals, processes detections in discrete cycles, and moves through verification steps periodically. This approach balances verification reliability with time efficiency by not requiring constant monitoring or immediate response to every detected movement.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods described in this disclosure generally pertain to a ride service that includes an autonomous vehicle configured to execute various functions autonomously for assisting customers. An exemplary autonomous vehicle of the ride service may be configured to autonomously execute one or more functions such as identifying a customer upon arriving at a pick-up location, finding a suitable parking spot close to the customer, guiding the customer (such as a visually impaired customer) to the autonomous vehicle, positioning a particular door of the autonomous vehicle to facilitate entry into the autonomous vehicle by the customer, and/or providing an assigned seat to the customer upon entry into the autonomous vehicle. In at least some cases, the customer may be a physically handicapped individual in need of certain types of assistance offered by the autonomous vehicle.