Vehicle Exterior Light Synchronization for Pedestrian Sensory Overload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pedestrians in complex urban environments experience sensory overload from asynchronous vehicle exterior lights, leading to difficulty in identifying relevant cues, decreased situational awareness, and slower reaction times, increasing the risk of accidents.
Innovation Solution
A light synchronization system that assesses the sensory environment and pedestrian state using biometric data and images to synchronize the presentation of vehicle exterior lights, either through real-world adjustments or augmented reality overlays, to reduce sensory overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vehicle exterior lights operate independently in complex urban environments, then each vehicle can function autonomously, but pedestrians experience sensory overload from asynchronous light presentations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the independent light operations of multiple vehicles by introducing a synchronization mechanism that coordinates exterior light presentations across vehicles. The light synchronization system receives sensor data from multiple vehicles and adjusts their exterior lights to operate in a coordinated manner, combining previously independent light functions into a unified synchronized display that reduces pedestrian sensory overload while preserving individual vehicle autonomy.
2Loss of information
If vehicle exterior lights operate asynchronously to indicate individual vehicle actions, then each vehicle can communicate its status independently, but pedestrians have difficulty identifying relevant cues and experience decreased situational awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic synchronized light presentations where vehicle exterior lights are coordinated to activate and deactivate in synchronized periods. The light synchronization system determines synchronization parameters including timing and duration, causing multiple vehicles to present their status indicators in a coordinated periodic pattern. This allows pedestrians to process vehicle status information in organized temporal segments rather than continuous asynchronous signals, improving situational awareness while maintaining complete vehicle status communication.
3Device complexity
If no light synchronization is implemented, then vehicle systems remain simple and independent, but pedestrian reaction times are slower and accident risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal light synchronization system that can operate across multiple vehicles and adapt to various scenarios. The system performs multiple functions including receiving sensor data from different vehicles, determining synchronization parameters, adjusting exterior light presentations, and adapting to different environmental conditions. This multi-functional approach enhances pedestrian safety through coordinated lighting while maintaining reasonable system complexity by using a standardized synchronization protocol that can be implemented across diverse vehicle platforms.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to synchronizing the presentation of vehicle exterior lights to reduce the sensory overload of a pedestrian. In one embodiment, a method includes assessing a sensory environment of a pedestrian. The method also includes determining that the pedestrian is in a sensory-overloaded state based on a characteristic of the sensory environment and sensor data indicative of a pedestrian state of mind. The method also includes synchronizing a presentation of a first vehicle exterior light and a presentation of a second vehicle exterior light based on a determination that the pedestrian is in the sensory-overloaded state.