Remote Vehicle Control via Camera and Mobile Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle interior controls are typically fixed and accessible only to the driver and front passenger, limiting access to rear seat passengers, and are costly and difficult to update with new features once the cockpit design is complete.
Innovation Solution
A remote control device that allows occupants to access and control various vehicle functionalities by changing its position, using sensor fusion, machine learning, and AI to adapt to different users, and enabling over-the-air software updates to add, remove, or update features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vehicle interior controls are fixed at respective locations, then the controls are simple and reliable, but the controls are accessible only to driver and front passenger, limiting accessibility to rear seat passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the vehicle interior controls and transmits these images to mobile devices held by passengers. This creates a visual copy of the controls that can be viewed and interacted with remotely, allowing rear seat passengers to see and control functions without physically accessing the fixed interior controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a camera and mobile device as intermediary components between the fixed interior controls and the passengers. The camera captures control states and transmits them wirelessly to mobile devices, which then relay control commands back to the vehicle system, enabling remote interaction without modifying the physical control locations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If new features are added to vehicle interior controls after cockpit design is complete, then the vehicle functionality is enhanced, but the cost and difficulty increase significantly due to packaging restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a universal camera and mobile device platform that can control multiple vehicle functions through software. Instead of adding physical controls for each new feature, the same camera-mobile device interface can be programmed to control different functions, allowing new features to be added via software updates without additional hardware or manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is made dynamic through software updates. The camera and mobile device interface can be reconfigured through over-the-air updates to add, remove, or modify control features. This allows the system to adapt to new requirements without physical modifications to the cockpit design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vehicle interior controls perform one function for product lifetime, then the controls are reliable and simple, but the vehicle cannot adapt to changing user needs or receive feature updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed mechanical controls with a software-based control interface accessed through mobile devices. The camera captures control states and the mobile device transmits commands wirelessly, substituting the traditional mechanical control link with an electronic communication system that can be updated via software while maintaining reliable control functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices for remotely controlling functionalities of vehicles are disclosed herein. Example systems, methods and devices may include determining that a remote control device is located at a position associated with a functionality, establishing a communication connection between the remote control device and the functionality based on a machine readable medium associated with the position, and causing a user interface on the remote control device to present one or more settings associated with the functionality.