Haptic Surface Array for Driver Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional haptic systems for drivers, such as those in vehicles, provide limited information and continuous feedback about the surrounding environment, often relying on binary alerts that can distract and fail to anticipate potential dangers, especially in low-visibility conditions.
Innovation Solution
A haptic system comprising a controllable array of haptic portions on a surface, such as a vehicle seat, that uses depth maps generated from environmental sensors to provide nuanced tactile feedback about object proximity, location, and size, allowing continuous awareness of the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional binary warning systems are used to alert drivers of potential dangers, then the driver is notified of the existence of certain events, but the driver receives a lack of additional information or details about such events
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic surface is divided into an array of independently controllable haptic portions, where each portion corresponds to a specific spatial location in the environment. This segmentation allows different regions of the surface to convey different information about objects at different locations, providing spatial awareness without requiring the driver to look away from the road.
Solution Approach 2:
Different haptic portions of the surface provide different tactile feedback characteristics based on their corresponding spatial locations. The intensity, frequency, or pattern of haptic feedback varies locally across the surface to encode information about object distance, size, and location, allowing the driver to interpret spatial information through touch alone.
2Reliability
If conventional binary warning systems activate only when danger is detected, then the system remains simple and energy-efficient, but the driver does not receive continuous feedback on the surrounding environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides haptic feedback at multiple levels of intensity rather than simply on/off. Subtle haptic cues can indicate potential hazards that require attention, while stronger feedback indicates immediate dangers. This partial action approach provides continuous environmental awareness while managing driver attention and system energy consumption efficiently.
3Loss of information
If conventional warning systems provide only notification alerts, then the system is simple to implement, but the driver cannot anticipate alerts and may be surprised when alerted
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides progressive haptic feedback as objects approach or as environmental conditions change. Subtle haptic cues are provided in advance of critical events, allowing the driver to anticipate potential hazards and prepare appropriate responses. This preliminary action transforms the system from a reactive notification device to a proactive awareness tool.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a haptic system for providing sensory augmentation to a subject, the haptic system including a haptic surface for interacting with the subject, the haptic surface including an array of haptic portions, each haptic portion configured to be controllable to perform a haptic action; an image generator configured to generate a depth map based on information obtained on a scene captured of a surrounding environment; and a controller configured to control each of the array of haptic portions based on a property of a corresponding portion of the depth map. There is also provided a corresponding method for providing sensory augmentation to a subject and a vehicle having installed therein the haptic system.