Autonomous Vehicle Interior Object Detection and Removal System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face inefficiencies in maintaining clean interiors due to the lack of real-time detection and rectification of objects left behind by passengers, leading to user dissatisfaction and potential loss of valuable items.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing vehicle sensors and robotic removal devices to detect and remove objects, schedule rectification at service stations, and communicate with customers for secure retrieval, enabling efficient and autonomous maintenance of vehicle interiors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous vehicles operate in a vehicle-as-a-service model with high occupancy turnover, then service efficiency and vehicle utilization are improved, but the frequency of objects left behind and messes increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning of the vehicle interior using sensors (cameras, LIDAR, weight sensors) to detect objects left behind by passengers before the vehicle is assigned to the next rider. This advance detection allows the system to identify and address potential issues before they affect subsequent passengers, enabling high vehicle utilization while maintaining cleanliness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the vehicle interior using various sensors and provides real-time feedback to the operations center. When objects or messes are detected, the system automatically notifies the appropriate service provider (retail merchant, cleaning service, or object removal center), creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains vehicle cleanliness despite high occupancy turnover.
2Reliability
If manual inspection and cleaning by drivers is used, then objects and messes can be detected and removed, but labor costs increase and detection reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is equipped with self-service capabilities through integrated sensors (cameras, LIDAR, weight sensors, odor sensors) that automatically detect objects, spills, and messes without human intervention. The system autonomously identifies the type of issue and routes it to the appropriate service provider, eliminating the need for manual inspection by drivers while maintaining high detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection by drivers with automated sensor-based detection systems. Optical sensors (cameras, LIDAR) detect objects and messes, weight sensors on seats detect uncollected items, and odor sensors detect spills. This substitution of mechanical human inspection with electronic sensing systems improves reliability while reducing operational complexity through standardized automated processes.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If all detected objects are immediately removed, then vehicle cleanliness is maintained, but valuable items may be lost and service time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different handling approaches based on the local characteristics of each detected object or mess. Valuable items (electronic devices, jewelry) are flagged for special handling and held for customer retrieval, while non-valuable items (trash, packaging) are scheduled for routine removal. Messes are routed to cleaning services. This differentiated approach maintains vehicle cleanliness while minimizing service time and preventing loss of valuable items.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically distinguishes between items to be discarded (trash, packaging, non-valuable objects) and items to be recovered (valuable personal belongings). Discarded items are scheduled for removal at convenient times, while valuable items are held in secure locations and notifications are sent to customers for retrieval. This selective approach maintains cleanliness while recovering valuable property and optimizing service timing.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle may be configured to detect an object within an interior of the vehicle using a vehicle sensor. The vehicle may further determine whether the object should be removed, based on a determined object value, such as may be determined by comparison of an object characteristic to a database of objects. Also, responsive to determining the object should be removed, the vehicle may schedule removal at an automated object-removal center. The vehicle may also wirelessly notify the object-removal center of vehicle arrival when the vehicle arrives at the object-removal center, including sending identification of the object, receiving indication from the object-removal center that the object has been removed, and confirming removal of the object by attempting to detect the object using the vehicle sensor, the confirmation occurring based on non-detection of the object by the vehicle that originally detected the object and requested removal.