Vehicle Comparison System Using Virtual Test Drive Animation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face challenges in understanding the benefits of advanced vehicle technologies, such as start-stop and hybrid vehicles, due to inadequate existing tools for comparing costs and operating characteristics, leading to a lack of awareness about their advantages.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle comparison tool that allows users to take a virtual test drive of different vehicles, including conventional, start-stop, and hybrid vehicles, using animations and comparison data tailored to user-selected driving styles, providing insights into fuel characteristics, emissions, and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If general cost of ownership calculators are provided to consumers, then cost comparison capability is improved, but consumer understanding of advanced vehicle technology benefits remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost comparison capabilityVSAvoidconsumer understanding of technology benefits

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual replica of the test drive experience through animation, allowing consumers to observe and compare vehicle operations without physically testing each vehicle. This virtual copy conveys operational characteristics and technology benefits that static calculators cannot communicate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The animation serves as an intermediary between the complex vehicle technologies and consumer understanding. It translates technical operations into visual narratives that illustrate how start-stop and hybrid systems actually function during driving, making abstract technology benefits tangible

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If detailed vehicle comparison data is provided through text and numbers, then information completeness is improved, but consumer engagement and comprehension remain low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidconsumer engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces static text-based information delivery with dynamic animation that visually demonstrates vehicle operations. This substitution transforms abstract data into engaging visual narratives that maintain information completeness while dramatically improving consumer engagement through storytelling and motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds the temporal and visual dimensions to vehicle comparison information. Instead of presenting data in static two-dimensional text formats, the animation introduces time-based progression and visual movement, creating a multi-dimensional information experience that enhances both engagement and comprehension

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9666092B2Vehicle comparison system

Publication Date: 2017.05.30 CPS TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A system for comparing energy usage of different vehicle platforms is provided. The system may include a processor to execute routines stored in a memory device. Further, in one embodiment the routines include routines configured to receive selection of a driving style by a user and to select a virtual test drive based on the received selection. Also, the routines may include routines configured to output the selected virtual test drive and to output a comparison of multiple vehicles having different characteristics based on the selected virtual test drive. Other systems, methods, and manufactures are also disclosed.