Vehicle Seat Occupancy and Restraint Sensing for Driver Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mass transit vehicles lack effective systems to automatically confirm that all passengers are seated and properly secured with safety restraints, relying on time-consuming manual inspections that may not ensure passenger safety.
Innovation Solution
A seat sensing system that includes a reporting module with a display, receiver, and computing device to determine passenger and restraint statuses through wireless communications, and can lock or unlock the vehicle's gear shifter based on these statuses to ensure safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual inspection methods are used to confirm passenger seating and restraint status, then the system complexity remains low, but the time consumption increases and safety reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors that automatically detect passenger presence and restraint status without requiring operator intervention. The sensors self-monitor and transmit data to the reporting module, enabling the system to serve itself in terms of data collection and initial processing, thereby eliminating time-consuming manual inspections while maintaining high reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with electronic sensing and wireless communication systems. Sensors detect passenger status electronically, and data is transmitted wirelessly to the reporting module, substituting the mechanical process of visual inspection with an automated electronic system that reduces time loss while improving safety confirmation reliability
2Reliability
If automated sensing systems are implemented to monitor passenger status, then safety reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into independent functional modules: passenger sensors, restraint sensors, wireless communication modules, and a reporting module. Each sensor type operates independently and reports to the computing device, which processes information separately. This segmentation allows the complex monitoring function to be achieved through simpler, modular components that can be independently tested and maintained
Solution Approach 2:
The reporting module serves multiple functions: it receives data from various sensor types, processes different kinds of status information, generates appropriate alerts, and interfaces with the vehicle's gear shifter system. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into a single universal module, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring capability
3Reliability
If real-time passenger status monitoring is implemented, then safety response capability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs status monitoring at periodic intervals rather than continuously. Sensors check passenger presence and restraint status at defined time intervals, and the reporting module processes this periodic data. This periodic action maintains safety response capability by regularly updating status information while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where sensors provide status information to the reporting module, which then determines appropriate responses such as gear shifter locking. The feedback loop is optimized to trigger actions only when status changes occur or at scheduled intervals, rather than maintaining constant active monitoring. This feedback-based approach ensures safety response capability is maintained while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption from continuous system operation
Data Source
AI summary
An example embodiment of a system and methods for detecting and reporting whether passengers are seated and secured in their seats within a vehicle may include a passenger sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a presence of a passenger in a seat in a vehicle, a restraint sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a status of a passenger safety restraint associated with the seat, a transmitter configured to be in electronic communication with the passenger sensor and the restraint sensor and to wirelessly transmit data indicative of the presence of a passenger in the seat and the status of the restrain, and a reporting module configured to be disposed proximate a driver of the vehicle. The reporting module may be configured to receive the data from the transmitter, and output a respective status for each of a plurality of seats.