Track Driver Guidance Using Light and Haptic Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver assistance systems for high-performance vehicles, such as sports cars, often distract the driver with continuous interference and require external coaching, leading to suboptimal performance and safety issues, especially on tracks.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a light interface device and haptic feedback system integrated into the vehicle to provide real-time, non-intrusive guidance on optimal driving actions based on vehicle position and trajectory, allowing the driver to maintain focus on the road while optimizing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic driver assistance devices continuously intervene to protect the car and driver, then safety is improved, but driving pleasure and performance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial intervention by selectively activating assistance only when performance limits are approached, rather than continuous intervention. This allows the driver to enjoy full performance within safe margins while receiving help only when necessary, thus maintaining driving pleasure while improving safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle parameters and provides feedback to the driver through informative messages when approaching performance limits. This feedback mechanism allows the driver to understand and adjust their driving to maximize performance while staying within safe operating parameters.
2Productivity
If informative messages are displayed on dashboard interfaces to guide the driver, then driving performance is improved, but driver attention is distracted from the road
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses haptic feedback through vibration of the steering wheel to communicate with the driver, replacing visual displays. This allows performance guidance to be delivered through tactile sensation, keeping the driver's eyes on the road while still providing necessary information to optimize driving performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the visual display interface (dashboard screen or head-up display) with a haptic interface through the steering wheel. This substitution transfers information delivery from the visual domain to the tactile domain, eliminating the need for the driver to look away from the road.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a coach provides real-time guidance during track driving, then driver learning is improved, but vehicle weight increases and driver stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the driver to learn and improve independently through automated monitoring and haptic feedback. The vehicle itself provides the coaching function through sensors that track performance and vibrations that guide corrections, eliminating the need for an external human coach and reducing vehicle weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an automated electronic intermediary between the driver and the coaching function. Instead of direct human-to-human communication, the electronic system mediates by monitoring vehicle parameters and translating them into haptic guidance signals, providing objective, consistent feedback without human limitations.
4Productivity
If the driver focuses on track position to understand car limits, then performance optimization is improved, but reaction time to actual track conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of vehicle parameters and track position continuously, preparing guidance information in advance. When the driver needs information, it is already available through haptic feedback, eliminating the time delay that would occur if the driver had to consciously analyze parameters and then react.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for the performance-enhancing driver assistance of a road vehicle (1) on a track (T) comprising the steps of: determining, in use, the current position (AP) and the current orientation of the road vehicle (1) on the track (T) by means of a tracking device (3); identifying an optimal trajectory in relation to the conformation of the track (T) and/or to the road vehicle (1); determining, in use, a relative position (AP) of the road vehicle (1) with respect to the optimal trajectory by identifying a longitudinal relative position (AP) on the optimal trajectory; suggesting to the driver, by means of one or more colours emitted or assumed by a light interface device (5), depending on the longitudinal relative (AP) position, one or more actions to be performed to vary a longitudinal dynamic of the road vehicle (1) in order to perform a mission optimising the performance on the track (T).