Vehicle Door Exit Alert System Using Preliminary Sensor Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle safety systems fail to adequately alert external vehicles and pedestrians of a vehicle occupant's intention to exit, often resulting in delayed notification, which can lead to accidents, especially in situations where the occupant may exit into a traffic path or when visibility is limited.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle safety system that utilizes internal sensors to detect exit behavior and triggers external alerts, such as custom illumination, audible signals, or mechanical changes, to warn other vehicles and pedestrians of an impending occupant exit, using existing vehicle components like indicator lights, hazard lights, or communication signals via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and determines the location of the exit to provide location-specific warnings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If door lights and reflectors are used to alert external users, then external visibility is improved, but the notification is delayed until the door is physically opened a specific amount
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates external alert lights before the door is physically opened, specifically when the door handle is pulled or the door begins to move. This preliminary action provides advance warning to external users (pedestrians, cyclists, other vehicles) before the door reaches positions where lights become visible, eliminating the notification delay inherent in traditional systems that only activate upon significant door opening.
2Reliability
If internal alert systems are used to warn occupants, then internal safety is improved, but external users remain unaware of occupant exit intentions
Solution Approach 1:
The system extends the warning function from the internal dimension (occupant alerts via dashboard displays and internal speakers) to the external dimension (external alert lights visible to pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles). This dimensional expansion ensures that both internal occupants and external users are simultaneously informed of the door opening intention, addressing the information loss to external users while maintaining internal safety alerts.
3Use of energy by moving object
If door lights are activated only when door opens significantly, then energy consumption is reduced, but safety warning is insufficient in low-visibility conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates external alert lights at the preliminary stage when the door handle is pulled or door movement begins, rather than waiting for significant door opening. This early activation ensures that external users have adequate time to react and take evasive action, particularly in low-visibility conditions where reaction time is critical. The energy consumption increase is minimal and justified by the significant safety improvement.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle is provided that includes a safety system that can provide an alert, external to the vehicle, that can warn other vehicles, people, etc. that a driver and/or passenger(s) are exiting the vehicle. Methods and systems determine when an occupant of a vehicle is about to exit by sensing the exit movement or an exit sequence, which may be detected by internal vehicle sensors. In response to the exit sequence, the vehicle may control one or more alert features, associated with the vehicle, to provide an external alert to other vehicles and/or users outside of the vehicle that a driver and/or passenger(s) is/are about to exit.