Vehicle Medical Condition Response via External Object Control Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles lack the capability to effectively respond to potential medical conditions of occupants in real-time, as existing systems do not integrate seamlessly with wearable or implanted biomedical devices to initiate appropriate remedial actions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system comprising an external object control module that receives diagnostic signals from occupant-coupled devices, analyzes them, and executes either communication-based or driving-based responses, such as providing medical instructions or controlling the vehicle's steering, propulsion, or braking, to address the occupant's condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle system integrates with occupant-coupled devices to detect medical conditions, then the ability to respond to medical conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: an external object control module (EOCM) for receiving and analyzing diagnostic signals, a vehicle driving system for autonomous/semi-autonomous control, and a vehicle communication system for information exchange. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in specific tasks, improving overall reliability while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The EOCM acts as an intermediary between occupant-coupled devices (wearable or implanted biomedical devices) and the vehicle's existing control systems. It receives diagnostic signals from external devices, analyzes them to evaluate potential medical conditions, and triggers appropriate responses without requiring deep integration into the vehicle's core systems, thus improving reliability while limiting complexity increase.
2Reliability
If the system executes autonomous driving actions to control steering, propulsion, or braking, then the safety response capability is improved, but the extent of automation increases which may raise control complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system is configured to execute pre-programmed autonomous driving actions (controlling steering, propulsion, or braking) that have been designed in advance for specific medical condition scenarios. When a potential medical condition is detected, the EOCM triggers predetermined safety responses that guide the vehicle to a safe stop or adjust driving parameters, improving safety response capability while relying on pre-established control logic rather than real-time complex decision-making.
3Measurement precision
If the vehicle system continuously monitors diagnostic signals from occupant devices, then the detection capability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors diagnostic signals from occupant-coupled devices at periodic intervals rather than continuously. The EOCM receives and analyzes diagnostic signals containing information about potential medical conditions at scheduled times, maintaining adequate detection capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring. This periodic approach allows the system to balance measurement precision with energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method and system for operating a vehicle when a vehicle occupant experiences a potential medical condition. The system may include an external object control module (EOCM) configured to wirelessly receive diagnostic signals from an occupant-coupled device, such as a smart watch or implanted cardiac pacemaker. The method and system process the diagnostic signals, for example by determining the nature and/or severity of the potential medical condition and carrying out one or more responses in reaction thereto. The type of response carried out can depend on whether the occupant is a driver or passenger, as well as the nature and/or severity of the potential medical condition, and can range from giving medical instructions to vehicle occupants to automatically slowing the vehicle down and bringing it to a safe stop in the event that the driver is unable to do so.