Seat Vibration Sensing for Driver Emotion Recognition Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for estimating a driver's emotion through image data analysis are limited by the difficulty in accurately recognizing emotions when the driver's back and thighs are in close contact with the seat, leading to inaccurate decisions due to limited image information.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle equipped with sensors on the seat to measure acceleration and contact pressure, determining human vibration sensitivity, and using this information to determine emotional states, including positive and arousal emotional information, to control output devices such as speakers or the steering wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If image data analysis is used to estimate driver's emotion, then the system structure is simple, but the measurement precision of emotional state is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing modalities (acceleration sensors, pressure sensors, EEG sensors, heart rate sensors) into an integrated emotion detection system. The controller merges data from these different sources to comprehensively determine driver's emotional state, achieving high measurement precision through multi-source information fusion rather than relying on a single imaging system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vibration sensitivity as an intermediary parameter that connects physical sensor measurements (acceleration, pressure) to emotional state determination. The vibration sensitivity value serves as a mediator that translates mechanical sensor outputs into meaningful emotional indicators, enabling accurate emotion recognition without direct visual observation.
2Reliability
If image-based emotion estimation is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of emotion detection deteriorates when driver's back and thighs are in close contact with the seat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the seating surface into multiple sensing zones with different sensor types (acceleration sensors for backrest, pressure sensors for contact areas). This segmentation allows the system to detect emotions through multiple independent measurement points, maintaining reliability even when the driver's posture obscures visual detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical/mechanical imaging system with a sensor-based mechanical detection system. Instead of using cameras to visually estimate emotions, the system uses acceleration sensors, pressure sensors, and physiological sensors (EEG, heart rate) to detect emotional states through physical and physiological parameters, ensuring reliable detection regardless of driver's contact with the seat.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are mounted on the seat to measure acceleration and pressure, then the measurement precision of vibration sensitivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the sensor system with multi-functionality where the same sensor array serves multiple purposes: acceleration sensors detect both seat vibration and driver movement, pressure sensors measure both contact pressure distribution and driver posture. This universal usage of sensors reduces the need for dedicated sensors for each measurement, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system performs self-calibration and self-characterization through the controller that automatically processes raw sensor data into meaningful vibration sensitivity values. The system uses the collected data to automatically determine frequency characteristics and sensitivity parameters without requiring external calibration equipment or manual adjustment, reducing the operational complexity despite having multiple sensors.
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
This approach allows for more accurate emotional state recognition and control, improving driver comfort and safety by effectively addressing the limitations of previous image-based emotion estimation methods.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sensors mounted on a seat... obtain an acceleration in each of a first seat in contact with a driver's back and a second seat in contact with a driver's thigh through the plurality of sensors... determine a specific frequency in each of the first seat and the second seat... determine a human vibration sensitivity using at least one of the specific frequency, the contact pressure information, and the load information
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a plurality of sensors mounted on a seat, an output device, and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain an acceleration in each of a first seat in contact with a driver's back and a second seat in contact with a driver's thigh through the plurality of sensors, to determine a specific frequency in each of the first seat and the second seat, to determine contact pressure information and load information of each of the first seat and the second seat through the plurality of sensors, to determine a human vibration sensitivity using at least one of the specific frequency, the contact pressure information, and the load information, to determine driver's emotional information including positive emotional information and arousal emotional information based on the human vibration sensitivity, and to control the output device according to the driver's emotional information.