Vehicle User Input Control Based on Pet Proximity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pets in vehicles often inadvertently activate user inputs, leading to unwanted control activations, as they move about the cabin without restraints, posing a challenge in maintaining safe and controlled vehicle operations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle monitoring system that detects and tracks the location of pets using imaging devices and RF signal communication, controlling user inputs to prevent inadvertent activations by disabling or reassigning functions when a pet is proximate to them, such as changing single push inputs to double push or reassigning to a touch screen display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pets are allowed to move freely in the vehicle cabin without cages or restraints, then pet comfort and ease of operation are improved, but the risk of inadvertent activation of user inputs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system proactively detects pet location and predicts potential contact with user inputs before it occurs. The controller preemptively disables or modifies user inputs based on predicted pet movement paths, preventing inadvertent activations before they happen rather than reacting after contact occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of user inputs based on real-time pet location data. User inputs are enabled, disabled, or modified (e.g., requiring double push) depending on the pet's proximity, allowing the system to adapt its control characteristics to the current situation rather than maintaining a static control mode.
2Reliability
If user inputs are disabled to prevent pet-induced activations, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of disabling all user inputs globally, the system selectively disables or modifies only those specific user inputs that are proximate to the pet's location. This localized approach ensures that controls remain accessible to occupants in areas of the cabin not occupied by the pet, maintaining ease of operation for non-affected controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The operational state of user inputs dynamically changes based on real-time pet proximity detection. When a pet approaches certain controls, those specific inputs are disabled or modified (e.g., requiring double push), while other controls remain fully accessible. This dynamic, selective modification preserves overall system accessibility while preventing problematic activations.
3Reliability
If the monitoring system continuously tracks pet location and controls user inputs, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system leverages existing multi-functional components already present in modern vehicles, such as cameras used for safety monitoring, RF signal devices used for keyless entry, and existing controllers that manage multiple vehicle functions. By repurposing these existing components for pet detection and control, the system avoids adding dedicated specialized hardware, thereby reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller that already exists for managing vehicle operations is enhanced to also handle pet detection and user input control functions. Rather than adding a separate dedicated controller, the existing controller is programmed to process pet location data and automatically adjust user input accessibility, allowing the system to self-manage without requiring additional control hardware.
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
Effectively prevents unwanted user input activations by accurately determining pet location and adjusting input functionality, ensuring safe and controlled vehicle operations by avoiding accidental pet-induced changes.
Implementation Method 1
A vehicle monitoring system that detects and tracks the location of pets using imaging devices and RF signal communication
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle comprises user inputs, a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet within the vehicle, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the pet based on the monitored signals. The controller controls activation of the user input controls based on the determined location of the pet to disable an operating mode of one or more of the user inputs when the pet is detected proximate to the user inputs.