Pedestrian Wearable Signaling for Autonomous Vehicle Crossing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles face challenges in safely interacting with unpredictable pedestrian behavior, making it difficult for pedestrians to determine if they have been 'seen' and whether it is safe to cross the road.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a wearable user input device for pedestrians to communicate with autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles, allowing pedestrians to request safe passage by transmitting radio frequency signals, which the vehicles can respond to by changing their motion, such as decelerating, to enable safe crossing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles use sensor systems to detect pedestrians, then collision prevention capability is improved, but pedestrian awareness of being detected remains unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback to pedestrians through the front display device showing detection status (detected/not detected) and vehicle motion status (stopping/not stopping). This feedback loop resolves the information asymmetry by making the vehicle's detection and decision-making transparent to the pedestrian, while maintaining reliable collision prevention through the sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The front display device acts as an intermediary between the sensor system and the pedestrian. It translates the vehicle's internal detection state into visible information for the pedestrian, bridging the gap between the vehicle's perception capability and the pedestrian's awareness without compromising the sensor system's reliability.
2Reliability
If vehicles decelerate to allow pedestrian crossing, then pedestrian safety is improved, but vehicle travel time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by only decelerating when pedestrian detection and crossing intent are confirmed through the wearable device communication. The vehicle does not unnecessarily slow down for all detected pedestrians, but only when there is confirmed crossing intent, thus maintaining safety while minimizing travel time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting pedestrians early with sensors and confirming their crossing intent through wearable device communication before the vehicle actually decelerates. This allows the vehicle to maintain speed longer and only slow down when absolutely necessary, optimizing the balance between safety and travel time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system communicates with wearable devices, then pedestrian-vehicle communication is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable user input device serves multiple functions: it communicates pedestrian crossing intent to the vehicle, receives feedback from the vehicle about detection status and motion decisions, and provides a user interface for pedestrian input. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing system complexity while enhancing communication capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, computer programs and methods are provided. A first method includes responding to user input, at a wearable user input device, by causing transmission of a radio frequency signal includes a request from a pedestrian wearer of the wearable user input device. The request may be a request to cross a road. A second method includes responding to the user input, provided by the pedestrian wearer of the wearable user input device, by causing motion of a vehicle to change. The motion of the vehicle may be changed in order to enable the pedestrian to cross the road.