Vehicle Hazard Reporting via Voice Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hazard reporting systems for vehicles are distracting for drivers, as they require interacting with touch displays or predefined menus, leading to potential accidents and missed reports of unique hazards.
Innovation Solution
A hazard reporting system that receives verbal reports from vehicle occupants, uses speech recognition to convert them into machine-readable data, and categorizes hazards using a predefined dataset, allowing for safe and dynamic reporting without distracting the driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a user interacts with a touch display or predefined menu to report hazards, then the report can be structured and categorized, but the driver becomes distracted and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction with touch displays and menus with voice-based reporting. Drivers speak natural language descriptions of hazards, which are then processed by speech recognition and natural language processing systems to extract hazard information, eliminating the need for manual input while maintaining reporting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising speech recognition, natural language processing, and hazard classification algorithms. This intermediary automatically processes the driver's verbal report, matching it against predefined hazard categories and sensor data to structure the information without requiring direct driver interaction with the interface.
2Ease of operation
If a predefined menu of hazard options is provided, then reporting is simplified, but unique or unexpected hazards cannot be reported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic hazard classification system that combines predefined categories with natural language processing. The system adapts to unique hazards by processing free-text descriptions, identifying key features, and either matching them to existing categories or flagging them for new category creation, thus maintaining simplicity while increasing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional reporting system that handles both structured predefined hazards and unstructured unique hazards through a single voice-based interface. The natural language processing component enables the system to universally process any hazard description while the classification algorithms route it to appropriate categories or identify new patterns.
3Loss of information
If the driver stops the vehicle to generate a report, then complete information can be provided, but traffic flow is disrupted and safety is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables drivers to report hazards in real-time while driving using voice commands, eliminating the need to stop the vehicle. The system processes reports during normal driving operations, maintaining both traffic flow and reporting completeness through hands-free, eyes-free operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a hazard reporting system (1) for enabling a vehicle occupant (20) to in an un-distractive and dynamic manner report a hazard associated with the surroundings of a vehicle (2). The hazard reporting system receives (1001) a verbal hazard report (41) from the vehicle occupant, which verbal hazard report comprises information related to a hazard (4) associated with the surroundings of the vehicle. The hazard reporting system further transforms (1002) - with support from a speech recognition service - the verbal hazard report into a resulting machine-readable hazard report (42, 42', 42"). The hazard reporting system further provides (1003) a data set (5, 5', 5") comprising one or more hazard categories (6, 6', 6"). Moreover, the hazard reporting system determines (1008) - when identifying (1007) a hazard category of the data set considered corresponding (60, 60', 60") to the machine-readable hazard report - that the corresponding hazard category represents the hazard reported in the verbal hazard report. The disclosure also relates to a hazard reporting system in accordance with the foregoing, and a hazard reports control server at least partly comprising such a hazard reporting system.