Vehicle Passenger Seating and Posture Detection System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles face challenges in determining whether passengers are seated and in safe postures, which can lead to safety risks during departure or travel, as they lack the ability to independently assess seating and posture without human intervention.

Innovation Solution

The vehicle employs a combination of sensors and a processor to generate seating and posture information from images, transmitting notifications when passengers are not seated or in unsafe postures, and determining whether it is safe to depart or travel based on this information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple sensors and image processing are used to identify seating and posture, then passenger safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger safetyVSAvoidsensor and processing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the monitoring task into multiple independent sensor components (first sensor for seating position, second sensor for posture) and processes each separately before integrating the results. This segmentation allows each sensor to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The processor performs multiple functions: it processes images from both sensors, generates seating information, generates posture information, determines safety, and controls notification devices. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each task.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If the vehicle determines seating and posture independently without human intervention, then automation is improved, but measurement precision may worsen due to difficulty in detecting and measuring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent seating assessment capabilityVSAvoidseating and posture detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Image processing algorithms serve as intermediaries between the raw sensor data and the safety determination. These algorithms automatically extract seating position and posture information from images without human intervention, enabling autonomous operation while maintaining measurement precision through computational analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection (mechanical/human system) with automated image sensing and processing (optical/electronic system). Sensors capture images and processors analyze them to determine seating and posture, substituting human judgment with automated optical measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20230215192A1Vehicle for identifying seating of passenger and operating method thereof

Publication Date: 2023.07.06 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle includes a first sensor for sensing a first image, a second sensor for sensing a second image, and a processor that is configured to generate seating information of a passenger based on the first image, and generate posture information of the passenger with the generated seating information based on at least one of the first image or the second image.