Vehicle Display Rationale Indicator for Obstructed View Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle display systems lack transparency and predictability in communicating vehicle surroundings to remote parties, such as pedestrians and other drivers, especially when external objects are in obstructed viewing areas.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle equipped with detectors and displays, controlled by a processor that detects external objects and selectively displays rationale indicators on various displays to convey the presence and condition of external objects, including those in obstructed viewing areas, using a combination of sensors and a vehicle location positioning system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional vehicle display systems are used to communicate vehicle status to remote parties, then basic vehicle status information can be transmitted, but transparency and predictability of vehicle surroundings remain insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into multiple independent displays positioned at different locations on the vehicle (front, rear, sides), each capable of showing different rationale indicators. This segmentation allows comprehensive coverage of vehicle surroundings information without requiring a single complex centralized display system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary rationale indicator system that mediates between the vehicle's internal state and external communication needs. The rationale indicators serve as intermediaries that translate complex vehicle sensor data and decision-making processes into simple, understandable visual cues for remote parties.
2Loss of information
If multiple displays are added to show rationale indicators in obstructed viewing areas, then information transparency to remote parties is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each display is assigned a specific local function based on its position on the vehicle. Front displays show rationale indicators relevant to forward-facing obstacles, rear displays show rearward obstacles, and side displays show lateral obstacles. This local quality assignment ensures that each display provides targeted information without redundancy, improving information completeness while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimension communication approach to a multi-dimensional display architecture. Displays are distributed across three-dimensional space around the vehicle, providing rationale indicators in multiple spatial dimensions. This allows comprehensive coverage of obstructed viewing areas from different perspectives simultaneously.
3Reliability
If rationale indicators are displayed for all detected external objects, then predictability of vehicle behavior is improved, but information overload to remote parties occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by selectively displaying rationale indicators only for external objects that meet specific criteria (e.g., objects in obstructed viewing areas, objects posing potential hazards). Not all detected objects trigger display activation, which maintains behavior predictability for critical situations while avoiding information overload for minor or irrelevant objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors detector information and adjusts rationale indicator display status accordingly. The system provides feedback to remote parties about vehicle behavior rationale dynamically, showing indicators when conditions warrant attention and hiding them when conditions are benign, thus maintaining predictability without overwhelming remote parties.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle body, at least one detector, at least one display and at least one controller. The at least one detector is configured to detect a presence of an external object within a vicinity of the vehicle. The at least one display is supported on the vehicle body. The at least one controller is programmed to determine the presence of the external object upon detection of the external object by the detector. The controller is further programmed to display a rationale indicator on the display to a remote party within the vicinity of the vehicle based on a detection result of the detector indicating the presence of the external object. The rationale indicator is an indication of an external condition occurring in the vicinity of the vehicle.