Vehicle Seat Moisture Sensor and Processor for Automated Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles in ride-sharing systems face challenges in maintaining seat conditions, particularly moisture levels, which can lead to unsatisfactory experiences for passengers and revenue loss due to the lack of real-time monitoring and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a moisture sensor and processor in vehicle passenger seats that detect moisture levels, trigger indicators for alerts, and activate blowers to dry the seats, ensuring they are ready for occupancy, thereby automating the maintenance process and improving passenger satisfaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual monitoring of seat conditions is used, then maintenance can be performed, but labor costs increase and real-time detection is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The seat incorporates moisture sensors and processors that automatically detect and monitor moisture levels without human intervention. The system self-diagnoses wet conditions and triggers appropriate responses, eliminating the need for manual inspection while maintaining continuous monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with electronic sensing technology. Moisture sensors and processors detect moisture levels electronically, substituting the mechanical action of manual checking with automated electronic detection systems.
2Productivity
If wet seats are not detected, then vehicle availability is maintained, but passenger satisfaction decreases and revenue is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors moisture levels through sensors and receives feedback about seat conditions. When wet conditions are detected, the processor triggers alerts and notifications to appropriate parties, enabling timely response to maintain both vehicle availability and seat quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The moisture detection system identifies wet conditions before passengers arrive or before the vehicle is assigned. This preliminary detection allows proactive measures to be taken, such as notifying cleaning staff or removing the vehicle from service, preventing poor passenger experiences while minimizing impact on availability.
3Reliability
If continuous moisture monitoring is implemented, then seat quality is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic moisture level checks at predetermined intervals. The processor evaluates moisture levels at these intervals and only activates alerts or notifications when wet conditions are detected, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reliable detection capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively addresses the issue of unsatisfactory seat conditions by providing real-time monitoring and automated drying, enhancing passenger experience and maintaining vehicle availability for ride-sharing services, thus preventing revenue loss.
Implementation Method 1
a moisture sensor that detects a moisture level of the vehicle passenger seat and generates a moisture level signal based upon the detected moisture level
Implementation Method 2
activate a blower to dry the vehicle passenger seat
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle passenger seat includes a moisture sensor that detects a moisture level of the vehicle passenger seat and generates a moisture level signal based upon the detected moisture level, and a processor in communication with the moisture sensor and that determines whether the moisture level signal exceeds a predetermined moisture level threshold.