Vehicle Occupancy Confirmation With Human-in-the-Loop Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in confirming the current occupancy, such as the number of passengers, to ensure safe and efficient transportation, as existing systems lack effective methods for verifying the desired occupancy before initiating autonomous operations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system requests assistance from a computing system, which displays images of the vehicle's interior to a human operator, allowing for confirmation of occupancy through an interface, and relays the operator's input to execute autonomous driving operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles use sensor measurements and automated systems to determine occupancy, then the extent of automation is improved, but the reliability of occupancy confirmation deteriorates due to inability to accurately verify passenger presence and identity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a computing system as an intermediary between the vehicle's automated sensors and the final occupancy confirmation. This computing system receives sensor data, processes it, and presents it to a human operator for verification. The intermediary role allows the system to maintain high automation while incorporating human judgment to ensure reliability, as the human operator can interpret ambiguous sensor readings and confirm actual passenger presence and identity.
2Productivity
If the vehicle control system uses automated methods to confirm occupancy, then the productivity of vehicle operation is improved, but the measurement precision of occupancy verification deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where sensor measurements are continuously monitored, processed by the computing system, and presented to the human operator. The operator's confirmation or correction of occupancy status feeds back to the vehicle control system, which can then adjust its operations. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain high productivity through automated monitoring while achieving precise verification through human feedback when needed.
3Reliability
If the system implements comprehensive passenger verification, then the reliability of safe transportation is improved, but the device complexity of the occupancy confirmation system worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the occupancy confirmation system into distinct functional segments: sensor modules for data collection, a computing system for processing and analysis, and a human operator interface for final verification. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the overall system to achieve high reliability through comprehensive verification while managing complexity through modular design. The segmentation enables independent optimization of each component and simplifies troubleshooting and maintenance.
Data Source
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AI summary
Example implementations relate to vehicle occupancy confirmation. An example implementation involves receiving, at a computing system from a camera positioned inside a vehicle, an image representing an occupancy within the vehicle. The implementation further involves, responsive to receiving the image, displaying the image on a display interface, and receiving an operator input confirming the occupancy meets a desired occupancy. The implementation additionally includes transmitting an occupancy confirmation from the computing system to the vehicle. In some instances, in response to receiving the occupancy confirmation, the vehicle executes an autonomous driving operation.