Vehicle Door Sensing Control for Timed Passenger Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door control systems for vehicles lack the ability to autonomously determine the identity and status of passengers and adaptively open doors based on passenger position, speed, and whether they are carrying objects, leading to inefficient and unsafe operation.
Innovation Solution
A door control system that includes a sensor assembly with multiple sensor fields and a controller that communicates with the liftgate and side door actuation assemblies, allowing it to detect recognized passengers, determine their speed, and automatically open doors based on their position and whether they are carrying objects, with timing synchronized to the passenger's arrival.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If door control systems operate manually or with basic automation, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation and safety are worsened due to inability to adapt to passenger conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of passengers, their positions, speeds, and carried objects before door opening. The controller proactively prepares to open doors by anticipating passenger needs based on sensor data, rather than waiting for manual activation. This enables automatic door opening at optimal moments, improving convenience while managing complexity through advance preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The door control system serves itself by using sensor assemblies to automatically detect and respond to passenger conditions without manual intervention. The controller autonomously determines when and which doors to open based on detected passenger information, eliminating the need for manual door operation and reducing the complexity burden through automated self-decision-making.
2Productivity
If the system opens doors early for fast-moving passengers, then productivity is improved by synchronizing door opening with passenger arrival, but reliability is worsened if timing is inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly continuously monitors passenger position and speed, providing real-time feedback to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to dynamically adjust door opening timing, ensuring doors open precisely when passengers arrive. This closed-loop control improves productivity by synchronizing door operation with passenger movement while maintaining reliability through continuous monitoring and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts door opening timing based on real-time passenger speed and position data. Rather than using fixed timing, the controller adapts the door activation moment to match each passenger's actual movement characteristics, enabling efficient synchronization while maintaining accuracy through dynamic response to changing conditions.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensor fields are deployed to detect passenger status, then measurement precision is improved for identifying passengers and objects, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly is segmented into multiple sensor fields (rear sensor field, side sensor fields) that independently detect different aspects of passenger presence, position, and status. Each sensor field focuses on specific detection tasks, improving overall measurement precision through divided functionality while managing complexity by organizing sensors into distinct, specialized zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly performs multiple functions using integrated sensor fields: detecting passenger presence, determining position, measuring speed, and identifying carried objects. This multi-functionality improves measurement precision across various parameters while managing complexity by combining multiple detection capabilities into a single unified sensor system rather than separate independent systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door control system includes a door assembly, which includes a side door and a liftgate. The door assembly includes an actuation assembly that adjusts each of the side door and the liftgate between opened and closed positions. A sensor assembly defines a rear sensor field, a first side sensor field, and a second side sensor field. A controller determines whether a person in at least one of the rear sensor field, the first side sensor field, and the second side sensor field is a recognized passenger, determines a speed of the recognized passenger, determines whether the recognized passenger is carrying an object, and activates the actuation assembly to open at least one of the liftgate and the side door based on whether the recognized passenger is carrying an object, where timing of activation of the actuation assembly is based on the speed of the recognized passenger.