Autonomous Vehicle Mobile Device Detection and Return Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to address the issue of users leaving their mobile devices in autonomous vehicles after arriving at a destination, as there is no human driver to remind them.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle system that determines if a user's or third party's mobile device is still on board after arrival at a destination and notifies them through various means to retrieve it, utilizing a processor, automated driving controller, cameras for facial recognition, and network interface for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles operate without human drivers, then automation level and productivity are improved, but the ability to remind users to retrieve personal items deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle system performs self-monitoring by automatically detecting the presence or absence of mobile devices using sensors and communication modules. The system independently generates and transmits notifications to users without requiring human driver intervention, enabling the vehicle to serve itself in the function of reminding users to retrieve personal items.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop by continuously monitoring the vehicle interior for mobile devices, comparing detected devices against a list of authorized user devices, and automatically generating notifications when mismatches are found. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the vehicle responds appropriately to the presence or absence of personal items.
2Productivity
If the vehicle notifies users about lost devices, then device retrieval rate is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system leverages existing multi-functional components within the autonomous vehicle, such as using the vehicle's communication modules (designed for general vehicle-to-cloud and vehicle-to-user communication) for both operational commands and lost item notifications. The sensor system, originally designed for safety and navigation, is also utilized to detect mobile devices, thereby avoiding the need for entirely separate dedicated notification hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
A notification apparatus and system are provided for a lost mobile device. After a notification is provided to indicate that a mobile device is still in an autonomous vehicle after arrival at a destination, user input is received for causing the autonomous vehicle to move toward, or remain within a predetermined distance from, a location of a user using a camera of the autonomous vehicle.