Gesture-Controlled VR for Vehicle Passengers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Passengers in land and air vehicles face challenges in safely and comfortably using immersive virtual reality experiences due to space constraints and safety concerns, such as distraction from flight or driving tasks.

Innovation Solution

A system and method providing an immersive virtual reality environment using a display device and gesture detection technology, allowing users to interact with virtual environments through virtual control devices, with safety features like automatic termination of VR upon exceeding movement limits or emergency announcements, ensuring users remain within physical space boundaries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If passengers use immersive virtual reality experiences in land and air vehicles, then entertainment and engagement are improved, but safety and comfort deteriorate due to distraction from flight or driving tasks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentertainment engagementVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary safety checks before allowing VR operation. It detects whether the user is properly restrained (seated with seatbelt) and whether the vehicle is in a safe state (landed, stopped, or in flight phase allowing VR) before initiating the virtual reality environment, thus preventing unsafe operation conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors user behavior and vehicle state during VR operation. It detects gestures, head movements, and vehicle motion to provide real-time feedback, automatically terminating VR when safety thresholds are exceeded (e.g., excessive movement, emergency braking, or unsafe vehicle state), thereby maintaining safety while allowing entertainment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If passengers use immersive virtual reality experiences, then engagement and immersion are improved, but comfort deteriorates due to space constraints and potential disturbance to other passengers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmersion levelVSAvoidcomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts VR parameters based on detected user behavior and environmental conditions. It monitors head movements, gesture intensity, and vehicle motion to automatically adapt VR content rendering, field of view, and interaction parameters, optimizing immersion while preventing discomfort from excessive motion or spatial conflicts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors user posture, head orientation, and gesture movements to provide feedback for comfort optimization. When discomfort indicators are detected (e.g., prolonged fixed position, excessive head movement, or proximity to other passengers), the system automatically adjusts VR parameters or terminates the experience, maintaining comfort while preserving immersion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If physical control devices are provided for VR operation, then ease of use is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of useVSAvoidcontrol device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces physical control devices with gesture-based interaction. Instead of requiring buttons, knobs, or remote controls, users interact with VR content through natural hand gestures, body movements, and head motions detected by sensors, eliminating the need for additional physical control hardware while maintaining ease of use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a single integrated sensor suite (cameras, depth sensors, microphones) to perform multiple functions: tracking user position, detecting gestures, recognizing head movements, and monitoring body posture. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require separate control devices, reducing complexity while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3079041B1Method and system for the production of a virtual reality environment for passengers of landcraft and aircraft

Publication Date: 2018.06.27 AIRBUS DEFENCE & SPACE GMBH

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6

AI summary

To enable the use of immersive virtual reality environments in passenger cabins (16) without impairing the comfort and safety of the passengers, the invention provides a method and a system (10) for providing a virtual reality environment (12, 30) for passengers (14) of land and air vehicles, in which a virtual reality environment (12, 30) is displayed to a user by means of a display device (18) and interaction between the user and the virtual reality environment (12, 30) takes place by means of a gesture detection device (20), wherein within the virtual reality environment (12) a virtual control device (28) is presented to the user, by means of which another virtual reality environment (30) can be selected that differs from the displayed virtual reality environment (12).