Vehicle Speed Control Using Gaze Detection to Prevent Unnecessary Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf cart speed control systems often decelerate or stop unnecessarily when a golfer is on the track, leading to slow travel, as they rely solely on ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles without considering whether the golfer recognizes the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle speed control device equipped with an image sensor, person detector, distance detector, and direction identifier, which captures images, detects people, determines their distance and direction, and adjusts vehicle speed accordingly to avoid contact and reduce excessive deceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic sensor is used to detect obstacles, then safety is improved by detecting golfers on the track, but vehicle speed is reduced due to excessive deceleration and unnecessary stops
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the detection parameter from simple ultrasonic distance measurement to multi-parameter analysis including image processing data, golfer position, direction of gaze, and body orientation. This allows the system to distinguish between golfers who are aware of the vehicle and those who are not, enabling selective deceleration rather than universal stopping
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image processing unit as an intermediary between the ultrasonic sensor and the speed control mechanism. This intermediary analyzes visual information about the golfer's awareness state and modulates the deceleration response accordingly, preventing unnecessary stops when the golfer is already aware of the approaching vehicle
2Reliability
If vehicle decelerates for all detected obstacles, then safety is improved by preventing contact, but travel efficiency is reduced due to excessive stops
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different control strategies to different situations based on local conditions. When a golfer is detected with awareness indicators (facing the vehicle, appropriate positioning), the system applies a milder deceleration. When awareness is not detected, full stop control is applied. This localized quality approach optimizes both safety and efficiency for each specific scenario
3Reliability
If ultrasonic sensor detects golfer at distance, then safety is improved by early detection, but vehicle speed is reduced due to premature deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of golfer awareness status through image processing before initiating deceleration. Even though the ultrasonic sensor detects the golfer at a distance, the vehicle maintains speed until the image processing unit confirms the golfer is not aware of the approaching vehicle, preventing premature deceleration
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
This system provides precise control of vehicle speed based on the golfer's recognition of the vehicle, preventing unnecessary stops and decelerations, ensuring safe and efficient travel.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor capturing an image in front of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a distance detector detecting a distance between the vehicle and the person
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Provided is a vehicle speed control device that controls a speed of a vehicle through estimation of whether or not a person recognizes the vehicle as well as the vehicle provided with the device. The vehicle speed control device includes an image sensor 3a capturing an image on front of the vehicle, a person detector 17 detecting the person from the image, a distance detector 21 detecting a distance between the vehicle and the person, a person direction identifying unit 25 identifying a direction of the person, and a vehicle speed controller 27 controlling the speed of the vehicle in accordance with the distance and the direction of the person. Identifying the direction of the person gives estimation of whether or not the person recognizes the vehicle.