Foot Well Camera for Driver Preference Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems fail to accurately interpret and adapt to a driver's preferences beyond explicit vehicle control inputs, such as steering and pedal operations, as they do not account for the driver's posture, gaze, and foot movements within the foot well, limiting customization of vehicle operations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system equipped with a camera that monitors the foot well to detect the driver's foot movements relative to the pedals, using computer vision to determine preferences and adjust vehicle operations like acceleration and distance maintenance based on these movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the vehicle control system only tracks explicit vehicle control inputs (steering, buttons, pedals), then the system complexity remains low, but the accuracy of driver preference estimation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary camera system positioned in the foot well to capture driver foot movements. This intermediary device bridges the gap between explicit control inputs and driver preferences, allowing the system to infer preferences from subtle foot positioning and movements near pedals without directly measuring driver intent
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical sensing of driver intent with optical sensing (camera-based vision system). Instead of using complex mechanical sensors to detect driver preferences, the system uses image processing and computer vision algorithms to analyze foot movements and infer preferences from visual data
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system monitors only explicit control inputs, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the adaptability of vehicle operations to driver preferences is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring and interpreting driver foot movements to infer preferences without requiring explicit driver input or configuration. The camera system continuously captures foot well imagery, and the control algorithm automatically processes this data to customize vehicle operations, making the system adapt to driver preferences autonomously
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by proactively monitoring foot movements and inferring preferences before the driver actually executes control actions. By detecting foot positioning and movements near pedals in advance, the system can anticipate driver intent and pre-adjust vehicle parameters, enhancing adaptability without adding operational complexity
3Loss of information
If the system uses camera-based foot well monitoring, then the driver preference detection capability is enhanced, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by focusing the camera monitoring only on the foot well area rather than the entire cabin. This localized monitoring approach captures essential foot movement information while minimizing the energy required for image processing and reducing computational overhead, thus balancing information gain with energy consumption
Data Source
AI summary
The systems and methods provided herein are directed to an automated driver assistance system that monitors the area around the pedals of a vehicle and modifies the automated operation of the vehicle based on detected motion of the driver near the pedals.