AV Onboard Assistant for Alert-Triggered Passenger Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ride-hail vehicles lacking human operators can create unsettling experiences for passengers due to the absence of human interaction, especially in emergency or non-emergency situations, necessitating improved communication and assistance systems.

Innovation Solution

An onboard assistant in autonomous vehicles (AVs) detects alert conditions and automatically initiates calls with service agents or passengers, providing communication services to address passenger concerns and facilitate interaction with service teams or emergency services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If autonomous vehicles operate without human operators, then automation level and productivity are improved, but passenger comfort and safety in emergency situations deteriorate due to lack of human interaction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation levelVSAvoidpassenger discomfort and safety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an onboard assistant system as an intermediary between passengers and external service teams. This assistant detects alert conditions through sensor data, automatically initiates calls to service agents, and facilitates communication, thereby providing human interaction mediation without requiring a human operator in the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically detecting alert conditions through electronic sensors and initiating communication with service teams without human intervention. The onboard assistant autonomously monitors vehicle status, identifies emergencies, and activates support protocols, allowing the vehicle system to serve itself in monitoring and communication functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated systems handle all vehicle operations, then operational efficiency is improved, but communication support and emergency response capability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidemergency response capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The onboard assistant continuously monitors vehicle status through sensor data and provides feedback by detecting alert conditions. When emergencies or non-emergency situations are identified, the system automatically initiates communication with service teams, creating a feedback loop that ensures reliable emergency response while maintaining automated operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring communication protocols and service team contacts before emergencies occur. The onboard assistant is pre-programmed to automatically initiate calls and connect passengers with appropriate service agents when specific alert conditions are detected, ensuring immediate response without delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12418779B2Human assisted live operations systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.09.16 GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the call.