Autonomous Vehicle UVC Cabin Cleaning With Occupancy Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning methods for vehicles, especially autonomous ones, may not adequately sanitize interior surfaces and air due to occupancy concerns, posing risks from UVC light exposure to passengers.
Innovation Solution
Implement a UVC light-based cleaning system for autonomous vehicles that activates only when confirmed unoccupied by passengers, using sensors and remote human operator verification to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UVC light-based cleaning is activated in autonomous vehicles, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but risk of passenger exposure to harmful UVC light increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces multiple intermediary systems including sensors (cameras, LIDAR, microphones), processors for analyzing sensor data, and communication systems for remote verification. These intermediaries detect passenger presence and mediate between the cleaning system and passengers, activating UVC cleaning only when no passengers are detected, thus resolving the contradiction between sanitization effectiveness and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of passenger presence using sensors before activating the UVC cleaning system. The processor analyzes sensor data in advance to determine occupancy status, and only activates cleaning when the vehicle is confirmed unoccupied. This preliminary action prevents harmful UVC exposure while maintaining effective sanitization
2Reliability
If continuous cleaning is performed to maintain high cleanliness levels, then sanitization quality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous operation, the UVC cleaning system is activated periodically based on detected needs. The system uses sensors to monitor for triggers such as passenger egress, vehicle arrival at destinations, or scheduled intervals, and activates cleaning only at these periodic moments. This approach maintains high cleanliness levels while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If manual verification of vehicle occupancy is implemented, then safety against UVC exposure is improved, but cleaning activation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual verification with automated sensor-based detection systems including cameras, LIDAR, and microphones. These systems automatically detect passenger presence and provide verification data to the processor, eliminating the need for manual checking. This substitution maintains high safety standards while reducing activation time by providing immediate automated verification
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
Ensures thorough sanitization of vehicle interiors without exposing passengers to UVC light, maintaining cleanliness and safety during unoccupied periods, enhancing cleaning efficiency in autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
the surface cleaning device includes an ultraviolet C (UVC) light source in order to clean the interior surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate cleaning systems for cleaning cabin air and interior surfaces of a vehicle. For instance, a cleaning system may include a surface cleaning device including a UVC light source. In addition, a request for confirmation that the vehicle may not be occupied may be sent to a remote computing device. In response to the request, a signal indicating whether or not the vehicle is occupied may be received. The surface cleaning device may then be activated based on the signal.