Vehicle Exterior Display for Reliable TNC Pickup Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In densely populated areas, especially in busy or low-visibility conditions, passengers face challenges in identifying their designated vehicles from Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) due to similarities in vehicles and limited visibility, which can lead to safety concerns and confusion.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a display device on designated vehicles to show individualized user information such as names, images, or codes, which can be visible from outside, using LED displays or Head-Up Displays (HUDs) with mirrors to ensure visibility, and is controlled via a smartphone app, ensuring riders can easily recognize their vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle information (license number, make, model, color) is provided via TNC App, then passengers can identify vehicles in normal conditions, but passengers cannot reliably identify vehicles in busy areas, reduced visibility conditions, or when requested by someone other than the rider
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays the passenger's name on the vehicle's exterior display device before the passenger arrives at the pickup location. This preliminary display of identification information allows passengers to identify their designated vehicle in advance, resolving the identification problem in busy areas, poor visibility conditions, or when the ride is requested by someone other than the passenger.
2Loss of information
If detailed vehicle information is provided to passengers, then passengers can identify vehicles, but passengers may still confuse designated vehicles with other similar vehicles in busy areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays the passenger's name specifically on the exterior of their designated vehicle, creating a unique local identifier that distinguishes it from other vehicles. This targeted display of personalized information ensures passengers can quickly identify their specific vehicle without confusion, even in areas with many similar vehicles.
3Ease of operation
If passengers rely on smartphone App to track vehicle movement and receive vehicle information, then passengers can follow vehicle location, but passengers cannot identify vehicles when smartphone is not functional or in areas with poor network coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's exterior display device as an intermediary to convey identification information directly to passengers. This intermediary display mechanism eliminates the need for passengers to rely on their smartphones for vehicle identification, working independently of network coverage or smartphone functionality.
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
Enhances passenger safety and convenience by providing a clear and recognizable method to identify approaching vehicles, even in challenging conditions, and can be used when smartphones are not functional or in areas with poor network coverage.
Implementation Method 1
the display device is an LED display matrix and the LED display matrix displays scrolling text of the display content
Implementation Method 2
the display device includes a HUD and a mirror configured to reflect the content from the HUD such that the content is visible to and oriented properly for observers outside the designated vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A display device controlled via a smart phone (preferably using an TNC App) to display content selected by a requesting rider (e.g., code, symbol, the rider name, or a photo) in a clear and visible way to the waiting rider is a convenient method to identify the rider's designated vehicle instead of trying to search through model, color, and license plates of approaching vehicles as they enter a pickup area (e.g., airport designated area). The selected content is displayed on a display unit on the designated vehicle, and is transmitted to the display unit via a server associated with the designated vehicle using a secure protocol.