Virtual Steering Wheel With Haptic Feedback for Manual AV Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles without a physical steering wheel lack a mechanism for users to engage in manual driving, which can be a desirable experience, and there is a need for a system to dynamically enable manual driving in such vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detects a user's request to manually drive an autonomous vehicle and displays a virtual steering wheel, providing haptic feedback through ultrasound-based haptic effects or haptic-enabled gloves, allowing users to manually control the vehicle's steering, acceleration, and braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a physical steering wheel is removed from autonomous vehicles, then the vehicle achieves higher automation level and modern design goals, but users lose the ability to engage in manual driving experience
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between autonomous and manual driving modes based on user request. When manual driving is requested, a virtual steering wheel is generated and displayed to the user, allowing temporary manual control while maintaining the overall autonomous vehicle architecture. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by enabling manual driving capability only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing a physical steering wheel, the system creates a virtual copy of the steering wheel interface displayed on a screen. This virtual steering wheel replicates the visual and functional appearance of a physical steering wheel, allowing users to interact with it through touch or gesture inputs, thereby providing manual driving experience without physical hardware.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual steering wheel is displayed to enable manual driving, then users gain manual driving experience, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical steering wheel system with a software-based virtual interface. The virtual steering wheel is rendered on a display screen and controlled through touch, gesture, or other input methods, eliminating the need for physical steering mechanisms while enabling manual driving control through software processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The display screen serves multiple functions: it displays the virtual steering wheel interface, provides visual feedback about vehicle status and environment, and accepts user inputs through various interaction methods. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby managing system complexity while providing manual driving capability.
3Ease of operation
If haptic feedback is provided through ultrasound-based effects, then tactile realism is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic feedback system uses periodic ultrasound waves to create tactile sensations. By delivering haptic feedback in periodic pulses rather than continuous waves, the system achieves the necessary tactile realism for steering interactions while reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous haptic activation.
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
Enables users to manually drive autonomous vehicles without a physical steering wheel, enhancing the driving experience by providing a tactile and interactive interface that mimics the physical act of steering, while ensuring safety through validated user credentials and context-aware engagement.
Implementation Method 1
providing haptic feedback through ultrasound-based haptic effects
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for manual driving of an autonomous vehicle via a virtual steering wheel. The embodiment may include identifying a user request to manually drive an autonomous vehicle. In response to determining that driving credentials of the user are validated, the embodiment may include displaying a virtual steering wheel to the user within the autonomous vehicle. The embodiment may include providing haptic feedback to the user in response to hand-based interaction with the displayed virtual steering wheel. The embodiment may include enabling manual drive of the autonomous vehicle by the user via the displayed virtual steering wheel.