Vehicle Occupancy Detection Using Rotational Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle occupancy detection systems face challenges in accurately determining occupant ingress and egress events without requiring significant changes or additional hardware, particularly in fully autonomous vehicles where precise occupancy tracking is necessary for fare calculation and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An occupant detection system utilizing a computer programmed to receive sensor data from rotational-rate sensors, accelerometers, and door-ajar sensors, which determines traversal events by analyzing rotational indicators and weight indicators within specific thresholds, allowing for the tracking of occupant quantity without additional hardware, using dynamic vehicle model instructions to corroborate determinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional occupancy sensors (seat sensors, seatbelt sensors, cameras) are used, then occupancy detection is achieved, but measurement precision and reliability are insufficient for accurate ingress/egress event detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines data from multiple existing sensors (rotational-rate sensors, accelerometers, door-ajar sensors) that were previously used for separate functions into a unified occupancy detection system. By merging these sensor inputs and processing them together through a computer, the system achieves accurate ingress/egress detection without adding dedicated new hardware, thus improving measurement precision while avoiding increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing sensors multi-functional by using rotational-rate sensors and accelerometers not only for their original purposes (vehicle stability control, motion detection) but also for occupancy detection. This universal usage of existing components allows the system to achieve accurate occupancy tracking without requiring additional specialized sensors, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
2Measurement precision
If additional hardware is added to improve occupancy detection accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing sensors that were already installed in the vehicle for their primary functions and repurposes them for occupancy detection. The rotational-rate sensors, accelerometers, and door-ajar sensors serve themselves by providing data for both their original purposes and the new occupancy detection function, eliminating the need for additional hardware while achieving precise ingress/egress event detection.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing sensors are made universal by enabling them to perform both their original functions and occupancy detection. The computer processes sensor data to simultaneously handle vehicle stability control, motion detection, and occupancy tracking, thereby improving measurement precision without adding new hardware components.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are integrated for comprehensive occupancy tracking, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple sensors (rotational-rate sensors, accelerometers, door-ajar sensors) into a unified processing system. By combining these sensor inputs and processing them together through a single computer system, the approach achieves reliable occupancy detection while avoiding the complexity that would arise from separate processing systems for each sensor type.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer system is made universal by enabling it to process data from multiple different sensor types for a single integrated purpose of occupancy detection. This multi-functional processing approach improves reliability through comprehensive sensor integration while keeping device complexity manageable by using a single centralized processing unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer in a vehicle that includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instruction may include: receive an indication that the vehicle door is ajar; receive sensor data from a rotational-rate sensor in a vehicle; and based on the indication and sensor data, determine a traversal event.