In-Vehicle Impairment Detection Using Biosensor and 3D Camera Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-vehicle impairment detection systems face challenges in accurately distinguishing the vehicle driver from passengers and are prone to false negatives and bypassing, particularly with touch-based systems that lack precise driver verification.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle impairment detection system incorporating a biosensor located in a predetermined region, such as a hand rest or arm rest, combined with a 3D time-of-flight camera for image verification, to accurately detect substances impairing the driver and validate the driver's identity through image data, ensuring seamless integration with the driving task.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch-based alcohol detection systems are used, then the system is less obtrusive to the driver, but the system suffers from inaccuracy and can be defeated by objects or non-driving occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection process into two distinct stages: first, a touch-based sensor performs preliminary alcohol detection, and second, an image sensor captures and verifies the driver's identity. This segmentation allows the system to use the less obtrusive touch-based method for initial detection while adding a verification layer to prevent bypassing, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor acts as an intermediary verification mechanism between the touch-based detection and the final decision to allow vehicle operation. It mediates the process by confirming that the person who touched the sensor is indeed the driver, preventing objects or passengers from bypassing the system while maintaining the obtrusiveness benefits of touch-based detection.
2Reliability
If driver identification information is stored in memory for verification, then the system can confirm real-time driver identity, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of storing complex driver identification information in memory, the system creates a temporary copy of the driver's image data captured by the image sensor and compares it with the current image. This copying approach provides reliable driver verification without requiring complex storage and processing of identification data, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining verification accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If breath-based alcohol detection systems are used, then unobtrusive breath sampling is achieved, but the system becomes complex, expensive and prone to error in distinguishing driver's breath from passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the driver identification verification function from the breath detection system by using a separate image sensor to capture and verify the driver's identity. This extraction allows the breath detection system to remain simple and unobtrusive while the image verification component handles the complexity of distinguishing the driver from passengers, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
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 system provides accurate and reliable impairment detection and verification, preventing vehicle operation by impaired drivers while avoiding false negatives and bypassing, enhancing safety by ensuring only the actual driver can operate the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
3D time-of-flight camera for image verification
Implementation Method 2
biosensor located in a predetermined region, such as a hand rest or arm rest
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for enabling driver operation of a motor vehicle includes receiving an electrical signal representing a property sensed by touching a region of skin of an occupant in the motor vehicle, and determining whether the occupant's ability to drive the motor vehicle is impaired based on the electrical signal. The method further includes performing an image based verification to determine whether the occupant from whom the property was sensed is in a driving position of the motor vehicle, and providing a control signal to enable operation of the motor vehicle based on a result of the determining and a result of the image based verification.