Vehicle Cabin Climate Control Using Occupant Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passengers in ride share vehicles often experience thermal discomfort due to thermal stratification within vehicle cabins, which can go unnoticed without user feedback and may be difficult to address without explicit communication to the driver or autonomous vehicle system.
Innovation Solution
An automated climate control system that utilizes user/occupant feedback via mobile devices to adjust climate control components, such as temperature, airflow, and humidity, using thermo-physical models to calculate comfort levels and implement necessary changes, allowing passengers to indicate their thermal state and comfort through various interfaces and recognition methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If automated climate control systems are implemented without user feedback mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal comfort for passengers deteriorates due to undetected thermal stratification
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback loops where thermal comfort sensors continuously monitor passenger zone temperatures and stratification conditions. This feedback is processed by the climate control algorithm to dynamically adjust HVAC operations, ensuring thermal comfort is maintained without requiring complex manual interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The climate control system performs self-adjustment based on sensor data and passenger profiles stored in memory. The processor automatically modifies climate settings without driver intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in maintaining thermal comfort while reducing operational complexity.
2Reliability
If manual climate control adjustments are required for each passenger, then thermal comfort can be improved, but ease of operation deteriorates as passengers must communicate discomfort to the driver
Solution Approach 1:
Each passenger zone is equipped with autonomous climate control capabilities that automatically adjust temperature and airflow based on sensor readings and stored passenger preferences. The system serves itself by detecting thermal conditions and implementing corrections without requiring passenger-d driver communication.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal comfort sensors act as intermediaries between passengers and the climate control system. These sensors detect passenger thermal state and translate it into automated control signals, eliminating the need for direct passenger-driver interaction while maintaining comfort.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed to detect thermal stratification, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle cabin is divided into multiple thermal zones, each monitored by dedicated sensors. This segmentation allows precise detection of thermal stratification in specific areas without requiring a complex centralized sensor array, as each zone is independently monitored and controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
The climate control system integrates multiple functions into a single processor unit that handles sensor data acquisition, thermal stratification detection, passenger profile management, and HVAC control. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite deploying multiple sensors for precise measurement.
4Reliability
If climate control is customized for individual passengers, then thermal comfort improves, but device complexity increases due to multiple control parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The climate control system is segmented into independent passenger zone controllers, each managing its own set of control parameters. This allows individual customization without requiring the central system to manage all parameters simultaneously, reducing overall complexity while maintaining personalization.
Solution Approach 2:
Passenger thermal profiles and preferences are pre-stored in memory before the vehicle journey begins. This preliminary action allows the system to automatically apply customized climate settings upon passenger entry, eliminating the need for complex real-time parameter adjustments during the ride.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for controlling climate in vehicle cabins. A person may provide climate related data to a vehicle climate control system prior to pick up and/or during a ride in the vehicle. The climate control system may adjust the climate in at least part of a vehicle cabin based at least in part on the climate related data and configuration of components in the climate control system. Climate control adjustments can be used to precondition part of a vehicle cabin for a person and/or in response to indicated thermal discomfort of the person. The climate control system can refer to an occupant comfort model and compute climate adjustments in accordance with the occupant comfort model.