Vehicle Interior Configuration Control for Pre-Collision Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle interior configurations are inflexible, limiting passenger comfort and safety, as they are designed for human operation, restricting movement during accidents and not adaptable to changing conditions, leading to increased injury risk and inefficiencies in transporting cargo.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes data collection components and processors to assess the physical configuration of interior vehicle components, allowing for dynamic adjustment of vehicle safety components and operation to enhance occupant safety and protect transportable articles, enabling real-time responses to emergency conditions and operational changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle interior configuration is designed for manual human operation with fixed controls, then the driver can effectively operate vehicle controls, but the driver's physical position cannot be adjusted without abandoning controls, increasing accident risk and placing detrimental force on the driver's body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the steering wheel and other control components movable rather than fixed. The steering wheel can dynamically adjust its position and remain locked at adjusted positions, allowing the driver to change physical posture while maintaining control capability. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both ease of operation and adaptability of driver position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameters of control components, particularly the steering wheel, which can be moved to different locations and orientations. This parameter change allows the driver to adjust their physical position while maintaining access to controls, thereby improving adaptability without sacrificing ease of operation.
2Reliability
If existing vehicle safety technologies such as airbags are used, then vehicle driver and passenger safety is improved, but these technologies do not deploy until after a vehicle has already been involved in a collision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by detecting collision risk before a collision occurs and proactively adjusting safety components and vehicle operation. The system predicts potential collisions and takes preventive actions such as adjusting airbag positioning or restricting vehicle actions, thereby improving safety and reducing response time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor driving conditions and vehicle state, and this information feeds back to the control system to dynamically adjust safety components. This real-time feedback enables the system to respond to changing conditions and prepare safety measures before a collision occurs.
3Reliability
If the driver or passenger attempts to brace for impact or make changes to position to reduce injury risk, then injury risk may be reduced, but physical movement is limited due to existing and confined standard interior vehicle configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making interior components such as the steering wheel movable, allowing passengers to adjust their physical position within the vehicle interior. This increased mobility enables passengers to brace for impact or adopt safer positions without being constrained by fixed configurations, thereby improving injury risk reduction while maintaining ease of movement.
4Reliability
If current vehicle safety devices such as seatbelts are provided for specific designated locations and orientations, then safety is maximized for those positions, but passenger actions are limited and productivity is reduced due to uncomfortable conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making safety components adaptable to multiple positions and configurations. The steering wheel and other controls can be positioned to accommodate various passenger activities such as sleeping or working, while maintaining safety functionality. This allows passengers to engage in productive activities without compromising safety.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a vehicle. An example system for controlling operation of a vehicle includes one or more data collection components and one or more processors. The one or more data collection components are configured to collect data representative of a physical configuration of an interior vehicle component. The one or more processors are configured to access the collected data, determine, by processing the collected data, the physical configuration of the interior vehicle component, select a manner of operation based upon the determined physical configuration of the interior vehicle component, and cause the vehicle to operate according to the manner of operation.