Handlebar Vibration and Voice Cues for Wind-Noisy Open Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers of open moving machines, such as motorcycles, face difficulties in understanding information due to wind noise interference, making it challenging to effectively transmit visual and voice-based information during operation.
Innovation Solution
An information transmission device that combines a vibrator and a voice output system, where the controller adjusts vibration patterns based on the type of information being transmitted, allowing drivers to recognize information through touch without relying on sight or hearing, and synchronizes vibrations with voice outputs to indicate readiness for input or output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If voice information is output to the driver, then information can be transmitted to the driver, but wind noise during traveling prevents adequate transmission of information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments information transmission into multiple channels: tactile vibration channel and voice output channel. The controller separately controls the vibrator and voice output device to transmit different types of information through different senses, allowing the driver to receive information even when one channel is interfered with by wind noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vibrator as an intermediary device that converts information into tactile vibrations transmitted through the handlebar to the driver's hand. This intermediary transmission path bypasses the auditory channel that is blocked by wind noise, enabling reliable information delivery through the sense of touch.
2Loss of information
If visual information is output to the driver, then information can be transmitted, but the driver cannot easily understand the information while focusing on driving operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual and auditory information channels with a tactile mechanical channel. The vibrator generates vibrations that are directly felt by the driver's hand on the handlebar, substituting the need for visual attention or auditory processing. This mechanical tactile channel allows the driver to understand information while maintaining full visual and cognitive focus on driving.
Solution Approach 2:
The tactile vibration information is delivered directly to the driver's hand, which is already in contact with the handlebar during normal driving. The driver's hand serves as both the operational control interface and the information reception interface, eliminating the need for separate visual or auditory attention.
3Loss of information
If multiple information channels (visual and voice) are used, then more information can be transmitted, but the driver still cannot easily understand information due to wind noise and driving focus requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments information into categories (navigation, vehicle state, warnings) and assigns different vibration patterns to different categories. The controller analyzes the type of information and selects appropriate vibration characteristics, allowing the driver to distinguish between different information types through tactile patterns without requiring visual or auditory processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses mechanical vibration as the primary information transmission medium. The vibrator generates controlled vibrations that convey information through the handlebar to the driver's hand. Different vibration patterns (frequency, amplitude, duration) encode different types of information, enabling rich information delivery through a single tactile channel that does not compete with driving attention.
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
Enables drivers to easily recognize information through tactile means, improving communication during driving by providing navigation, weather, and alert information, even in noisy conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a vibrator configured to vibrate a component of the moving machine, the driver in a driving posture being in contact with the component
Data Source
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AI summary
An information transmission device applied to an open moving machine driven by a driver who is exposed to an outside of the moving machine includes: a vibrator configured to vibrate a component of the moving machine, the driver in a driving posture being in contact with the component; and a controller communicably connected to an information providing device and configured to control the vibrator and a voice output device configured to output voice to the driver, the information providing device being configured to provide utterance information to the driver as information to be transmitted to the driver. The controller makes the vibrator operate when making the voice output device output the utterance information to the driver by the voice.