Vehicle Virtual Connection Indicators for Road User Confusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lack of awareness and unfamiliarity of other road users with virtual vehicular connections, such as hitchless towing configurations, leads to unsafe situations, as they may not recognize the synchronized movement of lead and following vehicles, potentially causing dangerous maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A virtual connection notification system that monitors the environment using sensors to determine a confusion score for users and generates external visual and audible indicators to enhance awareness of the virtual connection, adjusting the intensity based on the confusion level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If virtual connection configuration is used, then device complexity is reduced, but road user awareness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual indicators that change color or illuminate to indicate the virtual connection state between vehicles. These indicators use different colors or lighting patterns to communicate the towing relationship to surrounding road users, making the invisible virtual connection visible and understandable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual indicators as an intermediary element between the virtual connection system and road users. These indicators act as a mediator that translates the abstract virtual connection concept into tangible visual signals that road users can perceive and understand, bridging the information gap.
2Loss of information
If visual indicators are added to indicate virtual connection, then road user awareness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates visual indicators into existing vehicle lighting systems or uses multi-functional components that serve both aesthetic/standard signaling purposes and the additional function of indicating virtual connection. This allows the system to communicate multiple pieces of information through a single integrated indicator system, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the virtual connection indication function with existing vehicle external lighting systems or signage. By merging the new notification function with existing components, the system avoids adding separate dedicated hardware, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while still providing the necessary awareness.
Data Source
AI summary
System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to indicating a vehicle virtual connection based on user confusion. In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and a memory storing machine-readable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to 1) monitor an environment surrounding a first vehicle that has a virtual connection to a second vehicle, 2) determine a confusion score for a user within the environment, the confusion score indicative of how confused the user is about the virtual connection, and 3) generate an indicium of the virtual connection based on the confusion score.