Wearable Projection Interface for Hands-Free Vehicle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current user interfaces in vehicles lack intuitive and hands-free control options for vehicle settings, leading to potential driver distraction and inefficiency in interacting with climate, navigation, and communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A wireless projection mapping system comprising a wearable device with a video projector, sensor, and processing circuitry that projects an image on a surface or body part, allowing users to control vehicle settings through gestures or voice commands, and communicates with the vehicle headunit to adjust settings wirelessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional in-vehicle user interface is used, then the system structure is simple, but driver distraction increases and ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A projection surface is introduced as an intermediary between the driver and the vehicle controls. The projection surface displays virtual controls that can be interacted with through gestures or voice commands, mediating the interaction without requiring direct manipulation of physical controls, thus reducing distraction while maintaining operational ease
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical control interfaces (physical buttons, knobs) with a projection-based interface that responds to gestures and voice commands. This substitution eliminates the need for direct mechanical interaction, allowing drivers to control vehicle functions without taking their hands off the wheel or eyes from the road
2Reliability
If hands-free control options are added, then driver distraction is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projection surface serves multiple functions: it displays information, presents control options, and provides feedback mechanisms. By consolidating these functions into a single projection-based interface, the system achieves multi-functionality without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same hardware components support multiple operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes automatic detection of driver presence and vehicle state, with controls that adapt to the current situation. The projection surface automatically adjusts its content based on detected gestures or voice commands, reducing the need for complex manual configuration and allowing the system to serve itself in many operational aspects
3Ease of operation
If projection-based interface is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but measurement precision of user input decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback through the projection surface, showing the driver which controls are active and what actions are recognized. This feedback loop allows the driver to verify that their gestures or voice commands were correctly interpreted, effectively compensating for any precision limitations in the detection mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The projection surface displays control options and instructions before the driver needs to interact with them. By presenting the available controls and expected gestures in advance, the system prepares the driver for precise interaction, reducing errors and improving input detection accuracy through anticipatory guidance
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless projection mapping device and a method of using the same. A wireless projection mapping device includes a wireless modem configured to communicate wirelessly with a vehicle headunit installed in a vehicle, a video projector configured to project an image on a projection surface, a sensor configured to detect a user signal from a user in response to the projected image, and processing circuitry configured to control the video projector to project the image, determine a user input from the user based on the detected user signal, and perform an action based on the user input. The wireless projection mapping device is a wearable device. The processing circuitry may send a control signal to the vehicle headunit via the wireless modem based on the user input to control light setting, a seat position of a seat, climate and comfort setting, an in-vehicle communication system, or an in-vehicle navigation system.