External Display Navigation Cues for Unfamiliar Pedestrian Routes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pedestrians in unfamiliar areas face challenges in navigating streets and alleys due to the limitations of GPS navigation applications, which can be unintuitive and fail to accurately map digital instructions to the real world, leading to disorientation and increased vulnerability.
Innovation Solution
A navigation assistance system that controls local infrastructure elements and vehicles to provide real-world navigational cues based on sensor data from the pedestrian, such as biometric and environmental sensors, to enhance navigation guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If GPS navigation applications are used to provide digital navigation instructions, then navigation information can be provided to pedestrians, but the instructions are unintuitive and fail to accurately map to the real world, causing disorientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of external displays mounted on vehicles and infrastructure elements that act as a mediator between the digital navigation application and the pedestrian. These displays translate digital instructions into visual cues directly visible in the pedestrian's field of view, such as displaying directional arrows on nearby vehicles or infrastructure, thereby bridging the gap between abstract digital guidance and concrete real-world navigation without requiring the pedestrian to constantly check their device or mentally map digital instructions to physical surroundings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions navigation information from a two-dimensional screen interface to a three-dimensional spatial distribution of visual cues in the environment. By projecting navigation information onto external surfaces (vehicles, infrastructure elements) at different locations and orientations around the pedestrian, the system creates a spatially distributed navigation guide that naturally aligns with the pedestrian's physical movement through the environment, eliminating the disconnect between digital instructions and real-world navigation
2Ease of operation
If external displays on vehicles and infrastructure elements are used to provide real-world navigation cues, then pedestrian navigation understanding is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the multi-functionality of existing vehicles and infrastructure elements by equipping them with external displays that serve both their original purposes and the additional function of providing navigation cues. Rather than creating a dedicated navigation device, the system repurposes commonly encountered objects (vehicles, streetlights, signs) as navigation aids, thereby distributing the navigation function across multiple existing systems and reducing the need for specialized infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the natural movement and positioning of vehicles and infrastructure elements in the environment to provide navigation information. As vehicles naturally traverse the streets and infrastructure elements are fixed at strategic locations, they automatically serve as moving and stationary navigation beacons without requiring active control or power consumption for navigation purposes, thereby reducing the operational complexity of the system
3Reliability
If real-world navigational cues are provided through external displays, then navigation safety and reduced anxiety are achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic activation of external displays rather than continuous operation. Navigation cues are displayed intermittently at key decision points (intersections, turns, destination approaches) or when the pedestrian's location is confirmed through sensor detection, allowing displays to remain inactive during straight-path segments or when no navigation action is required, thereby significantly reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining navigation safety at critical moments
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to providing navigational guidance to a pedestrian on infrastructure elements or vehicles in the vicinity of the pedestrian based on the pedestrian being identified as unfamiliar with an environment. In one embodiment, a method includes determining that a pedestrian is in an unfamiliar area based on sensor data that characterizes the pedestrian. The method also includes acquiring a navigational instruction presented on a user device of the pedestrian. The method further includes presenting navigational assistance on an electronic display in a vicinity of the pedestrian responsive to an indication that the pedestrian is in the unfamiliar area. The navigational assistance is based on the navigational instruction.