Autonomous Vehicle Exterior Indicators for Passenger Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous vehicles are difficult to distinguish from one another, especially in high traffic areas where multiple vehicles from the same fleet have similar appearances, leading to challenges in passenger identification and potential incorrect vehicle entry, which can impact fleet planning and cause delays.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that uses external indicators such as visual, audible, and motion notifications on autonomous vehicles to distinguish the assigned vehicle from unassigned ones, utilizing sensor systems to detect passenger proximity and communicate with mobile devices to provide guidance to passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If autonomous vehicles in a fleet have similar appearances to maintain homogeneity, then manufacturing cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but vehicle identification and distinction become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using different colored lights (e.g., green, yellow, red) emitted from the autonomous vehicles to indicate their assignment status. The green light indicates the vehicle is assigned to a passenger, yellow indicates the vehicle is approaching, and red indicates the vehicle is not assigned. This allows passengers to easily distinguish between different vehicles in the fleet without changing their physical appearance, thereby maintaining manufacturing homogeneity while enabling effective vehicle identification.
2Productivity
If multiple autonomous vehicles operate concurrently in high traffic areas, then fleet productivity and service coverage are improved, but vehicle distinction and passenger assignment accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the distance between the passenger's mobile device and multiple autonomous vehicles using sensor systems (e.g., LIDAR, cameras). The system provides real-time feedback to both the passenger's mobile device and the autonomous vehicles about which vehicle is closest to the passenger. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of vehicle positioning and communication, ensuring that even when multiple vehicles are operating concurrently in high traffic areas, the correct vehicle is identified and the passenger is directed to the appropriate vehicle, thereby maintaining high assignment accuracy.
3Extent of automation
If no driver is present to communicate vehicle assignment, then automation level and extent of automation are improved, but communication of vehicle assignment to passengers becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary communication system consisting of external indicators (lights, displays) and mobile device communication to bridge the gap between the autonomous vehicle and the passenger. Instead of relying on direct human-to-human communication, the system uses visual indicators (colored lights, display screens) and digital communication (mobile device notifications, app messages) as intermediaries to convey vehicle assignment information. This allows the fully automated vehicle to effectively communicate its status and assignment to passengers without requiring a human driver, thereby maintaining high automation levels while ensuring effective communication.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing indications to identify a selected autonomous vehicle, thereby distinguishing the selected autonomous vehicle from other autonomous vehicles in a fleet. In particular, autonomous vehicles that are not paired with a specific nearby user may employ various exterior indicators to dissuade the user from entering. Additionally, autonomous vehicles that are not paired with the specific nearby user may provide guidance toward the user's autonomous vehicle.