Face-Down Steering Wheel Touch Panels for Blind Vehicle Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle command and control systems divert a driver's attention from the road due to the need to interact with touchscreens on the steering wheel or central console, leading to distractions and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising face-down touch panels connected to the steering wheel or alternative locations, allowing drivers to control vehicle functions using multiple fingers without lifting their hands or looking away from the road, with a view screen displaying finger positions and available functions, enabling blind data entry and gesture-based command selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch panels are placed on the steering wheel or central console for vehicle control, then ease of operation is improved, but driver safety deteriorates due to attention diversion from the road
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel is inverted to face downward on the steering wheel, allowing drivers to operate controls with fingertips while keeping thumbs on the wheel and eyes on the road, reversing the traditional upward-facing touchscreen arrangement that requires head movement and visual attention
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional touchscreens are used on central panels or steering wheels, then vehicle control functionality is improved, but driver distraction increases due to head movement and gaze diversion
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface moves from a vertical upward-facing plane to a horizontal downward-facing plane on the steering wheel, utilizing the radial dimension of the wheel structure to position controls within natural hand reach while maintaining forward gaze
3Ease of operation
If drivers interact with touch panels by touching screens or buttons, then vehicle functions can be controlled, but attention diversion from the road occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel structure itself serves as the support for the touch panel, eliminating the need for separate mounting structures and allowing the wheel to provide both steering control and interface support, enabling operation without removing hands from the wheel
Data Source
AI summary
The teachings herein generally relate to systems, methods and apparatuses useful in vehicle command and control. For example, a vehicle control system according to the teachings herein may include one or more touch panels connected to a steering wheel and being in communicative connection to a vehicle control processor. Preferably, the touch panel(s) are configured face down, and adapted to track touches (e.g., simultaneous touches) by multiple individually identified fingers. As another example, an apparatus for vehicle command and control, according to the teachings herein, may include one or more face down touch panels positioned to be touched by a driver's fingers while the driver's thumb holds or otherwise contacts a steering wheel. Preferably, the touch panels are in communication with a view screen enabled to display an indication of touch actions by multiple fingers touching the panels. The touch panels preferably include touch sensors adapted to identify touches of multiple fingers of a user. Preferably, the touch sensors are associated with software for identifying and tracking touches (e.g., movements) of every finger individually out of multiple fingers and determining whether each touch is a sliding movement or a non-sliding contact.