Gesture Authentication Lidar System for Autonomous Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles lack effective user authentication methods, as conventional methods like mobile device authentication and facial recognition are inconvenient, privacy-invasive, or require human presence, especially in scenarios where a trusted friend or family member needs to access the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A gesture-based authentication system using a lidar sensor and processor to identify users by comparing their body positions to a trained model, allowing users to perform specific gestures for authorization without requiring a mobile device or detailed facial images, thus enabling convenient and privacy-preserving access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mobile device authentication is used, then user identification can be achieved, but user convenience deteriorates and access time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser identification accuracyVSAvoidauthentication convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mobile device-based authentication with gesture-based authentication using sensor data from the autonomous vehicle. Instead of requiring users to interact with mobile devices (mechanical/digital interaction), the system captures sensor data from users' gestures and compares it to stored gesture models, enabling contactless and more convenient authentication while maintaining identification accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to authenticate themselves through natural gestures without requiring external devices or complex procedures. The autonomous vehicle's sensors automatically capture gesture data, and the system autonomously compares it with stored models to verify identity, making the authentication process self-service oriented and more convenient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If facial recognition is used, then user identification accuracy is improved, but user privacy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser identification accuracyVSAvoidprivacy intrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary gesture information from sensor data for authentication purposes, rather than capturing comprehensive facial recognition data. The system processes sensor data to identify specific gesture patterns while discarding unnecessary personal information, achieving accurate identification without intrusive biometric data collection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses temporary gesture data captured during the authentication moment, which is processed and then discarded. Unlike permanent facial recognition databases, the gesture data serves its authentication purpose and is not stored long-term, reducing privacy risks while maintaining identification accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If conventional authentication methods are used, then security can be maintained, but accessibility for trusted individuals deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity levelVSAvoidaccess flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The gesture-based authentication system serves multiple functions: it maintains security through accurate gesture verification while simultaneously enabling flexible access for trusted individuals. The system can authenticate various users through the same gesture mechanism, providing both security and adaptability without requiring different authentication methods for different user types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The system provides faster and more convenient user authentication, allowing authorized individuals to access autonomous vehicles without the need for mobile devices or invasive biometric data, while preserving user privacy and enabling access by trusted individuals.

Implementation Method 1

receiving sensor data describing an environment surrounding the autonomous vehicle, the sensor data including data from at least one lidar sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLIDAR: LIDAR

Data Source

PatentUS11790683B2Gesture based authentication for autonomous vehicles

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A gesture based authentication system for an autonomous vehicle (AV) uses light detecting and ranging (lidar) to observe a user making a specific gesture and, in response to observing the gesture, authorizes the user to access the vehicle. The authentication system may first identify a human in the vicinity of the AV, and then compare a body position of the identified human to a model trained to determine if a human is performing the specific gesture. If the model determines that the identified human is performing the gesture, the AV authorizes the user to access the vehicle, e.g., to accept a delivery or to ride in the AV.