Gesture-Based EV Ignition With Color Cues for Power State Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Totally electric vehicles face issues with excessive energy consumption and unclear ignition states due to automatic startup and lack of clear indicators for drivers accustomed to traditional 'key cycle' systems, leading to unnecessary wear and confusion regarding the vehicle's operational status.
Innovation Solution
A gesture device integrated into the vehicle, utilizing a video camera and optical sensor to detect specific hand gestures for activating and deactivating the powertrain system, eliminating the need for a brake pedal press and providing visual feedback through color changes on a luminous element to indicate the ignition state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle switches on automatically when the key is detected inside the passenger compartment, then the vehicle is ready to depart immediately, but excessive energy is consumed during lengthy periods when the driver is inside the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes its operational state based on detected gestures. The optical sensor detects hand gestures (such as a waving motion) to transition the powertrain system between switched-on and switched-off states, allowing the vehicle to adapt its energy consumption based on driver intent rather than maintaining a static automatic-on state
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates visual feedback through a luminous element that changes color to indicate the ignition state. This feedback mechanism informs the driver whether the vehicle is switched on or off, eliminating confusion while enabling energy-saving automatic shutdown when the driver remains inside the vehicle
2Ease of operation
If an ignition button is provided for manual activation, then the driver can control power supply, but it is not immediately clear to the driver whether the vehicle is switched on or off due to the silence of electric vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
A luminous element is configured to change color based on the ignition state of the powertrain system. When the vehicle is switched on, the luminous element displays a first color; when switched off, it displays a second color. This visual indication resolves the information loss problem by making the ignition state immediately visible to the driver without requiring sound or complex displays
3Reliability
If the vehicle requires pressing the brake pedal to switch on, then safety is improved, but the operation becomes more complex and less intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical brake pedal press requirement is replaced with a gesture-based control system using an optical sensor. The system detects specific hand gestures (such as waving or circular motions) to activate the powertrain system, substituting the mechanical brake interaction with an optical gesture recognition system that maintains safety through detectable intentional actions while improving operational simplicity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for simple, energy-efficient operation by enabling drivers to control the vehicle's power state with gestures, reducing unnecessary energy consumption and providing clear visual feedback on the ignition status, thus enhancing user experience and battery longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a gesture device (7) integrated into the vehicle and comprising an optical sensor (9) facing towards the driver when the key is detected inside the passenger compartment
Data Source
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AI summary
Road vehicle (1) comprising an ignition system (6) for the powertrain system (5) comprising in turn a luminous device (7) integral with the passenger compartment (3) of the road vehicle (1) and comprising an optical sensor (9) configured to detect at least a first gesture and a second gesture performed by the driver to switch from an off configuration to an on configuration of the road vehicle (1) and vice versa; the luminous device (7) comprising a display device (27) configured to at least partially assume a first colour and a second colour; wherein the display device (27) is configured to switch from the first colour to the second colour when the movable part (9) switches from the off configuration to the on configuration and vice versa when the movable part (9) switches from the on configuration to the off configuration.