Vehicle Voice Command Confirmation via Steering Wheel Switch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voice recognition systems in vehicles may misinterpret driver commands, leading to unintended vehicle processes being executed, which can compromise safety.

Innovation Solution

A driving assistance apparatus that acquires and recognizes voice commands, outputs intended process information to a meter, and requires a driver's approval via a switch on the steering wheel before executing the process, ensuring only intended actions are taken by determining the correlation level of the process with vehicle steering and requiring a specific time period for approval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If voice recognition is used to execute vehicle processes, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to misrecognition leading to unintended processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays recognition results to the driver and requires confirmation before executing voice-recognized processes. This feedback loop allows the driver to verify that the recognized command matches their intent, preventing unintended actions while maintaining voice control convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The display device acts as an intermediary between voice recognition and process execution. It presents the recognized command to the driver for verification, serving as a mediator that ensures the driver's intent is correctly captured before the action is performed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If voice commands are executed directly without confirmation, then productivity is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential misrecognition

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary action to prevent harmful outcomes by displaying the recognized command and requiring driver confirmation before execution. This pre-execution verification step counteracts the potential harm of misrecognition while maintaining efficient voice control operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If driver confirmation is required for voice commands, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional steps

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The driver serves themselves by reviewing the displayed recognition result and confirming if it matches their intent. This self-verification process empowers the driver to ensure accuracy while maintaining control, balancing reliability enhancement with operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11386891B2Driving assistance apparatus, vehicle, driving assistance method, and non-transitory storage medium storing program

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A driving assistance apparatus includes a memory and a processor including hardware. The processor is configured to acquire voice information uttered by a driver, recognize content of the voice information, output information on content of a process based on a recognition result of the voice information before executing the process, and execute the process when an approval signal that approves the execution of the process is input from an operation member disposed on a steering wheel that the driver holds to steer a vehicle.