Power Door Subsystem for Autonomous Fare Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous service vehicles face challenges in determining the completion of a ride and accruing fares accurately when doors remain ajar or objects are left inside, as existing systems lack efficient mechanisms to close doors and detect occupancy.
Innovation Solution
A power door subsystem actuated by a computing device, using sensors and actuators to close ajar doors and determine the fare, which continues to accrue until the vehicle is empty and doors are securely latched, allowing for accurate ride completion and fare calculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the service vehicle waits for users to manually close doors and clear objects, then users have time to prepare and exit, but the ride completion is delayed and fare accrual continues unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle performs door closing and occupancy verification automatically without requiring user actions. The power door subsystem closes doors autonomously, and the computing device verifies occupancy status, enabling the system to self-complete the ride termination process
Solution Approach 2:
The power door subsystem is activated in advance to close doors before the ride is officially completed. This preliminary action prevents delays by ensuring doors are closed and the vehicle is ready for the next ride before the fare accrual period ends
2Productivity
If the vehicle immediately determines ride completion when users exit, then fare accrual stops promptly, but inaccurate detection occurs when doors are ajar or objects remain inside
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device receives feedback from the power door subsystem about door closure status and from sensors about occupancy status. This feedback loop ensures the vehicle only determines ride completion when all conditions are met: doors are closed and no users or objects remain inside
Solution Approach 2:
Manual verification of door closure and occupancy by users is replaced with an automated system combining power door subsystems and sensor-based occupancy detection. This substitution ensures accurate and consistent detection without relying on user actions
3Device complexity
If manual door closing and occupancy verification are required, then system complexity is reduced, but operational efficiency and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The power door subsystem serves multiple functions: it closes doors during normal operation, closes ajar doors automatically, and works in conjunction with occupancy sensors to verify ride completion. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by eliminating multiple manual processes
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle autonomously manages door closure and occupancy verification without requiring user intervention. This self-service capability streamlines the ride completion process, enabling faster turnover and improved operational efficiency despite the increased system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device determines that one or more users have departed a vehicle. The computing device determines whether a vehicle door is ajar. A power door subsystem is actuated to close the vehicle door when the vehicle door is ajar and the vehicle has no users. A fare is determined when the vehicle door is in a latched position. A message is sent to the at least one of the one or more users indicating the fare.