Wearable EMG Sensor for Automatic Vehicle Trunk Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling vehicle trunks do not automatically open or close when a user is carrying heavy luggage, posing a risk of injury from bending or lifting, and primarily focus on opening the trunk without addressing the closing mechanism effectively.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device with an electromyogram (EMG) sensor generates a signal based on the user's muscle activity, which is wirelessly transmitted to the vehicle to control the trunk's opening and closing, using a combination of EMG signal strength and distance sensors to determine when to open or close the trunk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vehicle detector or ultrasonic sensor is installed to automatically open the trunk, then the trunk opening convenience is improved, but the trunk closing automation is not addressed and user injury risk remains
Solution Approach 1:
The EMG sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting trunk opening needs, detecting trunk closing needs, and monitoring user physical state. By wearing the sensor on the user's body, the system universally handles both opening and closing operations that were previously handled by separate systems, enabling automated closing functionality that adapts to user conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from detecting external gestures (ultrasonic sensor) to detecting internal physiological parameters (EMG signals). By monitoring muscle activity parameters, the system can distinguish between opening and closing intentions based on the specific muscle groups activated, enabling differentiated control for both trunk opening and closing operations.
2Device complexity
If the user manually opens and closes the trunk while carrying heavy luggage, then the control system remains simple, but the user's body may become injured due to bending or lifting
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the vehicle to serve itself by automatically opening and closing the trunk based on the user's physiological state. The EMG sensor detects when the user is carrying heavy luggage through muscle activity patterns, and the system autonomously manages the trunk operations without requiring manual user input, thus protecting the user from injury while maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction between user and trunk (manual opening/closing) with a physiological signal-based control system. EMG sensors detect muscle electrical signals, which are then processed to automatically control the trunk mechanism, substituting the mechanical user-trunk interaction with an electronic control loop that eliminates the need for user bending and lifting.
3Extent of automation
If EMG sensors are worn on the user's body to detect muscle activity, then automated trunk control is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device with EMG sensor acts as an intermediary between the user's physiological state and the vehicle's control system. Instead of directly integrating complex EMG processing into the vehicle, the sensor data is transmitted wirelessly to the vehicle's controller, which then makes control decisions. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture while achieving high automation.
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 convenient, non-contact control of the trunk's opening and closing, reducing the risk of injury by automatically managing the trunk's state based on the user's activity, maintaining the trunk open during loading/unloading and closing it when the user moves away.
Implementation Method 1
generating an electromyogram signal for reactivity of a body of a user using an electromyogram sensor worn on the body of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for controlling a trunk to be opened or closed using a wearable device. The trunk may be opened or closed using a non-contact arrangement by causing the wearable device to generate an electromyogram (EMG) signal of a user depending on whether or not the user carries heavy luggage, and causing the vehicle to receive the EMG signal wirelessly.