Wearable HMI Device for Vehicle Obstacle Directional Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current human-machine interfaces (HMIs) in vehicles, particularly for autonomous and driver-assist modes, fail to provide timely and effective feedback to users about vehicle obstacles, often relying on audio and visual cues that may not be promptly noticed, leading to delayed reactions in critical situations.
Innovation Solution
A wearable HMI device with a wireless communication interface, processor, and memory that uses a plurality of haptic devices distributed along a wearable band to convey directional information about vehicle obstacles through haptic signals, allowing for timely and intuitive feedback to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If audio and visual cues are used to alert users about vehicle obstacles, then information can be conveyed to the user, but the user may not notice the alerts promptly, leading to delayed reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic feedback system is segmented into multiple independent haptic actuators distributed around the wearable band, allowing different regions to provide distinct tactile cues. This segmentation enables the system to convey directional information about obstacles through spatially distributed haptic patterns, making the alerts more noticeable and intuitive compared to single-location audio or visual cues.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable HMI device acts as an intermediary between the vehicle's sensor system and the user. It receives obstacle location data from vehicle sensors, processes this information, and translates it into intuitive haptic feedback patterns that the user can feel. This intermediary role enables more effective communication of obstacle information compared to direct audio/visual alerts from the vehicle.
2Reliability
If traditional HMI interfaces are used in vehicles, then the system structure remains simple, but timely and effective feedback to users about vehicle obstacles is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable HMI device serves as a portable intermediary that bridges the vehicle's sensor system and the user. It contains a processor that receives obstacle location data via wireless communication, identifies the appropriate haptic device based on obstacle direction, and generates corresponding haptic signals. This intermediary approach provides effective feedback while keeping the vehicle's original system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of feedback modality from traditional audio/visual cues to haptic tactile feedback. By utilizing the user's tactile sense through distributed haptic actuators, the system provides more intuitive and timely obstacle information. The haptic feedback parameters (intensity, frequency, location) are dynamically adjusted based on obstacle characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for a human machine interface (HMI) device to provide sensory augmentation in a vehicle environment are disclosed. The device and method include receiving, via a vehicle network, location data relating to a vehicle obstacle identified by a vehicle sensor. With the location data, the device and method include identifying a haptic device of a plurality of haptic devices correlating to the location data and to a directional reference, wherein the plurality of haptic devices distributed in a defined-relation along a wearable band device and operable to convey directional information. With the haptic device being identified, the device and method include generating a haptic signal, by the haptic device, to define a vector relating to the vehicle obstacle with respect to the directional reference.