Ground Light Projection for Pedestrian-Aware Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pedestrians and cyclists may feel uncertain about the awareness of autonomous vehicles, leading to discomfort and inefficient traffic flow due to the lack of visual cues or notifications indicating the vehicle's presence.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle uses a light projector to illuminate the road surface or ground beneath pedestrians or cyclists, projecting beams of light to visually notify them that the vehicle is tracking their presence, potentially accompanied by directional indicators, messages, or alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles use sensors and tracking algorithms to detect pedestrians and cyclists, then the vehicle's awareness and safety are improved, but pedestrians and cyclists cannot perceive the vehicle's awareness, leading to discomfort and inefficient traffic flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light projector as an intermediary device that translates the vehicle's internal tracking state into an external visual signal. The projector casts light patterns on the ground beneath pedestrians and cyclists, serving as a mediator that communicates the vehicle's awareness to vulnerable road users without requiring direct visual contact with the vehicle's sensors or processing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by projecting visual indicators that confirm the vehicle has detected and is tracking pedestrians and cyclists. This feedback loop allows vulnerable road users to perceive the vehicle's awareness state, reducing uncertainty and improving interaction comfort while maintaining safe operation.
2Loss of information
If the autonomous vehicle projects light onto the road surface to notify pedestrians and cyclists, then communication and reassurance are improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light projector operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when pedestrians or cyclists are detected by the sensor system. This periodic operation significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous illumination while ensuring that communication occurs precisely when needed for safety and reassurance.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system provides localized illumination only in the specific areas where pedestrians or cyclists are detected, rather than illuminating the entire surrounding environment. This localized approach minimizes energy consumption by concentrating light output only where communication with vulnerable road users is necessary.
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
This solution reassures pedestrians and cyclists that the autonomous vehicle is aware of their presence, enhancing comfort and potentially improving traffic flow by providing clear visual notifications.
Implementation Method 1
the light projector, in response to receiving the illumination signal, projects a beam of light onto the road surface beneath the pedestrian or cyclist
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous vehicle includes a sensor detecting an object in a vicinity of the autonomous vehicle, a processor coupled to the sensor to receive sensor data from the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to process the sensor data to recognize that the object is a pedestrian or cyclist. The processor cooperates with the sensor to track the pedestrian or cyclist. The processor determines if the pedestrian or cyclist satisfies a notification criterion and, upon determining that the pedestrian or cyclist satisfies the notification criterion, the processor outputs an illumination signal. A light projector receives the illumination signal and projects a beam of light onto a portion of a road on which the pedestrian or cyclist is currently situated to visually notify the pedestrian or cyclist that the autonomous vehicle is presently tracking the pedestrian or cyclist.