Roof-Mounted Launch Control Activation for Driver Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing launch control procedures in modern cars are poorly ergonomic and require drivers to divert their attention from the road to locate and activate the launch control button, which is inefficient and potentially dangerous during high-performance driving.
Innovation Solution
A manual control for activating the launch control procedure is mounted on the roof of the vehicle, allowing activation through a simple vertical movement, accompanied by visual cues that can be perceived peripherally, ensuring the driver's focus remains on the road.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the launch control button is located on the dashboard or central tunnel, then the activation can be signaled visually through illumination, but the driver must divert attention from the road to locate and activate the control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the launch control activation from the traditional horizontal plane (dashboard/central tunnel) to the vertical dimension by mounting the control on the roof. This dimensional shift allows the driver to access the control with a natural upward hand movement while keeping eyes on the road, eliminating the need to divert attention to the dashboard or tunnel area.
2Device complexity
If the launch control button is placed on the dashboard or central tunnel among many other controls, then it can be integrated into the existing control layout, but identifying the correct button takes relatively long time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the launch control activation function from the complex cluster of dashboard and central tunnel controls. By placing a dedicated launch control button on the roof, the system separates this critical function from the dense control environment, allowing immediate identification and activation without searching through multiple buttons and controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified, dedicated control interface on the roof that replicates the essential launch control function without the complexity of the full dashboard control set. This copied function is optimized for rapid activation with minimal cognitive load, using a single clearly identifiable button rather than requiring the driver to navigate through multiple control elements.
3Loss of information
If the driver must check the control panel or dashboard for activation signaling, then the launch control status can be clearly indicated, but the driver's focus is taken away from the road ahead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the activation control to the vertical dimension (roof), allowing the driver to access it with peripheral vision and natural hand movement upward, while the activation signaling can be perceived through peripheral vision as well, maintaining central visual focus on the road ahead.
Data Source
AI summary
A road vehicle having: a passenger compartment delimited by a roof at the top; at least one front seat arranged in the passenger compartment; an accelerator pedal; a brake pedal; a control unit, which implements a launch control procedure; and a manual control, which is can be operated to carry out the activation of the launch control procedure and is arranged on the roof.