Autonomous Vehicle Text Support for Passenger Discomfort Events
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passengers in autonomous vehicles, particularly those with hearing impairments, face challenges in conveying support requests due to the absence of a human driver and the inefficiency of conventional voice-based communication methods.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle system that detects potentially discomforting events and provides contextually relevant textual support messages, allowing passengers to select predefined or generated messages for feedback or chat sessions without manual navigation of the user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a passenger uses conventional voice-based communication to request support, then the passenger can communicate with support agents, but the process is time-consuming and difficult for passengers with hearing impairments
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates multiple support request messages based on detected events before the passenger needs to communicate. When an event is detected (e.g., hard stop, extended stopping), the system automatically creates relevant support messages in advance, so the passenger only needs to select from pre-prepared options rather than manually composing a request from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables passengers to self-select from pre-generated support messages by simply touching the display, eliminating the need for manual navigation through complex interfaces or voice-based composition. The passenger serves themselves by selecting from contextually relevant messages that have already been prepared by the system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system provides manual navigation of user interface for support requests, then passengers can access support functions, but the process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and presents only the most relevant support messages to the passenger based on the detected event, removing unnecessary interface elements and navigation steps. Instead of presenting a full menu of all possible support functions, the system extracts and displays only those messages relevant to the current situation, simplifying the interface to essential elements only.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-generates and pre-organizes support messages according to the detected event type, so that when the passenger needs support, the relevant messages are already prepared and displayed in an optimized sequence, eliminating the need for manual navigation through complex menu structures.
3Productivity
If the system presents predefined support messages based on detected events, then communication efficiency is improved, but the system must accurately detect and interpret event contexts
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments support messages into distinct categories based on event types (e.g., hard stop, extended stopping, unusual maneuvers). Each event type has its own set of pre-generated messages, allowing the system to match the detected event with the most appropriate message category, improving both detection accuracy and communication efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
An autonomous vehicle including a sensor system that outputs a sensor signal indicative of a condition of the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle also includes a user interface device with a display. A computing system determines, based upon a profile of the passenger, that support is to be provided textually to the passenger when the support is provided to the passenger. The computing system further detects occurrence of an event that has been identified as potentially causing discomfort to the passenger. The computing system yet further sets a predefined support message defined in an account corresponding to the event maintained in a database prior to occurrence of the event as a support message to be presented to the passenger. The computing system additionally causes the display to present the support message textually, wherein the textual support message solicits feedback from the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.