Vehicle Seat Selection via Imaging System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ride services struggle to provide effective seat selection options in both human-driven and autonomous vehicles, impacting the customer experience and ride service efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A system that utilizes an imaging system in vehicles to capture and process images of seating areas, generating a seat availability diagram, which is then transmitted to user devices for seat selection or automatic assignment, ensuring optimal seating based on occupancy status and user preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If seat selection options are provided to users, then customer experience is improved, but system complexity increases due to image capture, processing, and real-time seat availability tracking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat selection processVSAvoidseat selection system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables users to independently view seat availability diagrams and select their preferred seats through the user interface without requiring manual intervention from drivers or operators. The imaging system automatically captures and processes seat occupancy status, and the system autonomously updates availability information in real-time, allowing users to make informed selections on their own.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional manual seat assignment methods (mechanical/physical processes) with automated imaging and digital processing systems. Instead of drivers manually assigning seats or users physically checking seats, the system uses cameras, image processing algorithms, and digital displays to automatically track and communicate seat availability, substituting mechanical operations with optical and computational processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If real-time seat availability tracking is implemented, then ride service efficiency is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous imaging and data processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveride service efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous imaging and processing, the system implements periodic updates of seat availability information. The imaging system captures images at specific intervals or when occupancy status changes, rather than continuously monitoring. This periodic action maintains real-time accuracy for seat selection while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of time

If automated seat assignment is provided, then loss of time is reduced, but adaptability decreases as user preferences may not be considered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat assignment timeVSAvoiduser preference accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically assigning seats in advance when users do not express specific preferences. This preliminary automatic assignment occurs before the user boards the vehicle, saving time. However, the system maintains adaptability by allowing users to override these preliminary assignments and select their own preferred seats if they have specific requirements, thus balancing speed with user preference accommodation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances customer experience by providing flexible and adaptable seat selection options, improving ride service efficiency by dynamically managing seat occupancy and guiding users to the correct entry door, applicable to both autonomous and human-driven vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

capturing, by an imaging system located in a vehicle, at least one image of a seating area in the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImage capture and processing: Photography

Data Source

PatentUS11170459B2Systems and methods for seat selection in a vehicle of a ride service

Publication Date: 2021.11.09 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for receiving a ride request from a user of a user device and utilizing an imaging system located in a vehicle of a ride service to capture an image of a seating area of the vehicle. The image is processed by a processor to identify a seat occupancy status and generate a seat availability diagram based on the seat occupancy status. The seat availability diagram is transmitted to the user device, and the user is prompted to either select a seat by using the seat availability diagram or to allow the system to assign any seat in the vehicle. If a seat selection is made, the system responds by reserving the selected seat and may further provide instructions to the user for entering the vehicle through a specific door located closest to the selected seat.