Wearable Computer for Autonomous Vehicle Occupant Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, there is a need to effectively alert occupants of various conditions and dangers without requiring them to attend to vehicle operations, especially when the vehicle is operating partially or fully autonomously, ensuring that only authorized and capable individuals can control the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A wearable computing device that communicates with the vehicle's central computing device, providing alerts and informational messages through visual, auditory, and haptic means, and receives biometric data to authenticate and authorize users, allowing the system to determine when to send messages and adjust autonomous operation accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the vehicle operates autonomously without a driver, then productivity and automation are improved, but the ability to monitor vehicle operations and respond to conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable computing device serves as an intermediary between the autonomous vehicle system and the occupant. It receives data from the vehicle's sensors and computing device, then delivers alerts and information to the occupant through visual, auditory, and haptic interfaces, bridging the gap between autonomous operation and occupant awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring vehicle conditions through sensors and communicating status, alerts, and information back to the occupant via the wearable device. This creates a closed-loop system where the occupant receives real-time information about vehicle operations and environmental conditions.
2Reliability
If alerts are provided to occupants during autonomous operation, then safety and occupant awareness are improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable computing device performs multiple functions: it displays vehicle status information, provides alert notifications, delivers environmental data, and serves as an input device for occupant responses. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device, the system avoids the complexity of multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device leverages its own display, audio, and haptic capabilities to communicate with the occupant, rather than requiring additional vehicle-specific notification systems. The device uses its inherent user interface mechanisms to deliver alerts and information, reducing the need for complex vehicle-integrated notification hardware.
3Reliability
If biometric authentication is required for vehicle control, then security and authorization are improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Biometric authentication is performed in advance before the occupant is granted vehicle control capabilities. The wearable device captures biometric data and communicates with the vehicle's computing device to verify authorization beforehand, so that once authenticated, the occupant can operate the vehicle without repeated authentication steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or manual authentication methods (such as keys, cards, or passwords) with biometric authentication using the wearable device. This substitution provides more reliable security while maintaining ease of operation, as biometric verification is automatic and requires no manual intervention from the occupant.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable computing device in a vehicle is identified by a computer in a vehicle. Collected data is received relating to autonomous operation of the vehicle. A message is sent to the wearable computing device based at least in part on the collected data.