Autonomous Vehicle Telepresence for External Interface Interaction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous vehicles lack the capability to autonomously interact with external interfaces, such as security gates, law enforcement, or to perform tasks like picking up packages or food, requiring improved systems for interaction and telepresence.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle system equipped with external sensors, a controller, wireless communication, microphone, speaker, and video display to identify and perform interactions, with telepresence mode engaging remote owners or agents for complex interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous vehicle is equipped with basic remote trigger capability, then simple interactions are enabled, but complex interactions with external interfaces cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments interaction capabilities into multiple modes: fully automatic mode for routine interactions, telepresence mode for complex interactions requiring human judgment, and hybrid modes combining both. This segmentation allows the vehicle to handle simple tasks autonomously while escalating to human-in-the-loop control only when necessary, thereby improving versatility without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary telepresence system that bridges the gap between fully autonomous operation and direct human control. When the autonomous system encounters an external interface it cannot handle, the telepresence mode activates to provide human assistance remotely, enabling complex interactions without requiring permanent human presence in the vehicle.
2Productivity
If fully automatic interaction mode is used, then operational efficiency is improved, but handling of complex or unexpected situations is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its level of automation based on the complexity and nature of the external interface being interacted with. Routine interactions with known interfaces operate in fully automatic mode for high efficiency, while novel or complex interfaces automatically trigger telepresence mode for reliable human judgment, optimizing the balance between productivity and reliability in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the success and failure of automatic interactions. When automatic interactions fail or encounter unexpected situations, the system learns from these outcomes and can escalate to telepresence mode, ensuring that reliability is maintained while preserving operational efficiency for successful automatic operations.
3Reliability
If telepresence mode is activated for all interactions, then interaction reliability is improved, but operational efficiency and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying telepresence to all interactions, the system applies it partially - only when necessary for complex or uncertain situations. This selective application maintains high reliability for critical interactions while avoiding the efficiency penalties of universal telepresence, allowing the majority of routine interactions to proceed automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different levels of interaction control to different situations based on their specific requirements. Routine, well-understood interactions receive automatic processing with high efficiency, while complex, novel, or high-stakes interactions receive telepresence support for enhanced reliability, creating local quality variations in the interaction approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for facilitating interaction between an autonomous vehicle and an external interface in proximity to the autonomous vehicle including a plurality of external sensors positioned on the autonomous vehicle and adapted to collect data relative to an environment surrounding and in proximity to the autonomous vehicle, a controller having a wireless communication module, the wireless communication module adapted to facilitate wireless data exchange between the controller and remote entities, the controller adapted to receive data collected from the plurality of external sensors and identify an interaction mode for the external interface, a microphone and a speaker adapted to facilitate audible communication between the controller and the external interface, and a video display adapted to display visual information to the external interface, wherein the controller is adapted to perform an interaction with the external interface.