Voice-Controlled Haptic Interface for Eyes-Off-Road Vehicle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of in-cabin vehicle features and minimalist interior controls have led to user frustration with touch-only systems, particularly due to complex menu navigation, safety concerns from 'eyes off road' situations, and inaccuracies in voice recognition technology.
Innovation Solution
A Voice-Controlled Haptic Interface (VCHI) system that uses speech recognition to determine requested machine control (MC) operations and assigns corresponding functions to haptic control devices, allowing users to control vehicle systems like HVAC, seat, and multimedia settings without visual menu navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If touch-only systems are used to control vehicle features, then minimalist aesthetic design is achieved, but user safety deteriorates due to eyes off road situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines voice recognition technology with haptic control devices to create a hybrid interface system. The voice commands initiate control functions while haptic devices provide tactile feedback and confirmation, merging auditory and tactile modalities to maintain safety while achieving minimalist design.
Solution Approach 2:
Haptic control devices serve as an intermediary between the driver and the vehicle's control systems. Instead of requiring visual interaction with touchscreens, the haptic devices provide tactile cues that enable control without visual attention, mediating the interaction to preserve safety.
2Shape
If touchscreens are used to control vehicle systems, then aesthetic design is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex menu navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control interface into distinct functional components: voice recognition for command input and haptic devices for navigation and selection. This segmentation allows complex menu operations to be broken down into simple voice commands and tactile interactions, improving ease of operation while maintaining aesthetic design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of touching and navigating visual menus with acoustic (voice) and tactile (haptic) interactions. This substitution eliminates the need for complex visual menu navigation while preserving the minimalist aesthetic of the vehicle interior.
3Ease of operation
If voice recognition is used to control vehicle functions, then hands-free operation is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inaccurate voice recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback loops where haptic devices provide tactile confirmation of voice command recognition and system responses. This feedback mechanism allows the system to verify voice recognition accuracy in real-time and provides the user with tactile confirmation, effectively compensating for limitations in voice recognition precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic control devices serve multiple functions: they provide tactile feedback for voice command recognition status, enable alternative input methods, and confirm system responses. This multi-functionality compensates for voice recognition inaccuracies and enhances overall measurement precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to assigning one or more functions to one or more haptic control units. An indication of a requested machine control (MC) operation determined based on processing, using speech recognition, one or more voice commands received via one or more microphones can be received from a voice recognition system. One or more functions associated with the MC operation can be assigned, via a MC system to one or more haptic control devices and based on the requested MC operation.