Smart Vehicle Seats for Privacy-Preserving Behavior Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous vehicle systems face challenges in detecting user behavior without breaching privacy and require significant computing resources, often relying on cameras that capture images of users.
Innovation Solution
The integration of tactile-sensitive surface materials in vehicle seats and other sensors within the autonomous vehicle to detect smart seat sensor data, which is then combined with other sensor data to estimate user behavior using machine learning models, allowing for control of the vehicle and adjustment of interactive content without the need for cameras or extensive computing resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If cameras are used to capture images of users, then user behavior detection capability is improved, but user privacy is breached and computing resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary behavioral information from sensor data without capturing actual images of users. Tactile-sensitive surface materials and other sensors detect user behavior patterns (sitting, leaning, exiting) and the system extracts behavioral estimates without retaining visual information, thus detecting user behavior while preserving privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical/mechanical camera system with tactile-sensitive surface materials and sensors that detect physical interactions. Instead of using cameras to capture visual information about user behavior, the system uses tactile sensors embedded in seats and other components to detect mechanical interactions, thereby reducing privacy intrusion and computing resource requirements.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If cameras are used to capture images of users, then user behavior detection capability is improved, but computing resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces image capture and processing with tactile sensing. Tactile-sensitive surface materials detect user interactions through mechanical contact, generating minimal data that requires far less computational processing than image data. This substitution dramatically reduces computing resource requirements while maintaining behavior detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple, low-cost tactile-sensitive surface materials and sensors that generate ephemeral data for immediate processing. These sensors provide sufficient behavioral information without the need for expensive, high-performance computing infrastructure required by camera systems, effectively using simple sensing elements to replace complex imaging systems.
3Loss of information
If tactile-sensitive surface materials and sensors are integrated, then user privacy is protected and computing resources are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates tactile-sensitive surface materials into existing seat structures, allowing the seats to serve dual functions: providing user support and detecting behavioral interactions. This multi-functionality approach incorporates sensing capabilities without adding separate complex sensor systems throughout the vehicle, thereby managing device complexity while achieving privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges tactile-sensitive surface materials with existing vehicle seat structures and combines multiple sensor inputs (tactile sensors, weight sensors, temperature sensors) into a unified sensing system. By merging sensing functions into existing components and integrating multiple sensor types into a coordinated system, the patent reduces overall device complexity compared to installing separate sensor systems throughout the vehicle.
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 enables the detection of user behavior and control of autonomous vehicle actions while maintaining user privacy and reducing computational demands, providing a more immersive experience through dynamically adjusted interactive content.
Implementation Method 1
obtain smart seat sensor data, the smart seat sensor data being detected by a tactile-sensitive surface material of a seat of an autonomous vehicle in response to a user interacting with the tactile-sensitive surface material
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprises obtaining smart seat sensor data, the smart seat sensor data being detected by a tactile-sensitive surface material of a seat of an autonomous vehicle in response to a user interacting with the tactile-sensitive surface material. Other sensor data is obtained from one or more other sensors disposed within the autonomous vehicle. The smart seat sensor data and the other sensor data are integrated. A behavior of the user is estimated based on the integrated data, and the autonomous vehicle is controlled based on the estimated behavior of the user.