Haptic Vehicle Alert via Wearable Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional automotive alerts, such as visual and audible signals, often go unnoticed by drivers due to their frequent occurrence and similar characteristics, leading to potential safety issues with alerts like pedestrian detection, collision avoidance, and drowsy driver warnings.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular system that communicates with a wearable device equipped with a haptic mechanism, providing vibration alerts only for critical conditions, thereby bypassing the interpretation step required for audible or visual alerts, ensuring faster driver reaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional visual and audible alerts are used, then the alert system can provide multiple types of notifications, but the alerts often go unnoticed by drivers due to their frequent occurrence and similar characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealert effectivenessVSAvoidalert system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The alert system segments notifications into different types: standard alerts continue to use traditional visual and audible signals, while non-standard critical alerts use a distinct haptic feedback mechanism. This segmentation allows critical alerts to be differentiated from routine notifications, improving reliability without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A wearable device with haptic feedback capability serves as an intermediary between the vehicle's alert system and the driver. This intermediary translates critical alert signals into distinctive tactile sensations that the driver can feel, providing a new sensory channel for alert delivery that bypasses the limitations of visual and audible channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If multiple alert types are provided through traditional channels, then comprehensive notification is achieved, but driver reaction time is delayed due to interpretation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver reaction timeVSAvoidalert interpretation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the cognitive interpretation process with a direct mechanical haptic feedback mechanism. Instead of requiring the driver to visually identify and cognitively interpret alert symbols or audible tones, the haptic device directly transmits tactile sensations that intuitively convey critical alert status, eliminating interpretation delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than requiring the driver to actively interpret alert signals through sight or sound, the system inverts the approach by having the alert system actively stimulate the driver's tactile senses. This inversion transforms the alert delivery from a passive observation task to an active sensory engagement, reducing reaction time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If haptic alerts are used for all conditions, then immediate driver attention is achieved, but unnecessary alerts may cause driver distraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealert noticeabilityVSAvoiddriver distraction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different alert modalities to different alert categories: standard alerts use traditional visual/audible channels, while only non-standard critical alerts trigger the haptic feedback. This localized application of haptic alerts ensures high noticeability for critical situations while avoiding driver distraction from routine notifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of alert delivery by introducing a new sensory modality (tactile haptic feedback) specifically for critical alerts. This parameter change allows the system to achieve high noticeability for important alerts while maintaining normal operation for standard alerts, thereby avoiding unnecessary distraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 haptic alerts provide a more noticeable and immediate indication to the driver, enhancing reaction time to critical vehicle conditions by limiting non-standard alerts to vibration feedback only.

Implementation Method 1

The wearable device is configured to detect a pulse rate and includes a haptic mechanism that outputs a vibration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS10099608B2Haptic vehicle alert based on wearable device

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A vehicle includes a controller that communicates with a wearable device having a haptic mechanism. In response to an alert event detected by the vehicle, the controller outputs a signal to activate the haptic mechanism. The wearable device may detect a physiological or biometric characteristic such as pulse rate. The controller may output a signal to activate the haptic mechanism further in response to the pulse rate being less than a threshold. Also, the controller may output a signal to activate the haptic mechanism while the vehicle is operating autonomously.