Windshield Wiper Control Using Driver Gaze and Rain Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wiper systems consume unnecessary energy when not needed, such as when the vehicle is stationary or the driver is not looking through the windshield, and may cause inconvenience to people or vehicles in proximity due to splashing.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that uses driver gaze detection and environmental sensors to determine when to activate wipers based on precipitation intensity and driver gaze direction, ensuring wipers operate only when necessary and avoid splashing nearby individuals or vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wipers are activated based on rain sensor detection, then windshield cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases when vehicle is stationary or driver is not looking through windshield
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper control system dynamically adjusts operation based on real-time detection of vehicle motion state and driver gaze direction. The processor determines whether the vehicle is moving or stationary, and whether the driver is looking through the windshield, to dynamically control wiper activation and optimize energy consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops using motion sensors to detect vehicle movement and gaze detection sensors to monitor driver attention. This feedback information is processed to continuously adjust wiper operation, ensuring windshields are cleaned only when the vehicle is in motion and the driver needs visibility, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
2Illumination intensity
If wipers operate continuously to maintain clear view, then driver visibility is improved, but inconvenience is caused to nearby individuals or vehicles due to splashing
Solution Approach 1:
The motion sensor detects vehicle movement in advance before wiper activation. By determining whether the vehicle is in motion beforehand, the system prevents wiper operation when stationary, thereby avoiding splash impact on nearby pedestrians or vehicles while maintaining driver visibility when the vehicle is actually moving.
3Reliability
If rain sensors detect precipitation, then wiper activation is triggered, but unnecessary operation occurs when vehicle is stationary
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functionality of rain detection with motion detection and gaze detection. Instead of relying solely on rain sensor output, the processor combines multiple sensor inputs to make an integrated decision about wiper activation, ensuring that precipitation detection alone does not trigger unnecessary wiper operation when the vehicle is stationary or the driver is not looking through the windshield.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper system serves itself by using onboard sensors (motion sensors and gaze detection sensors) to automatically determine when activation is appropriate. This self-service capability eliminates the need for continuous manual control or overly simplistic rain-sensor-only activation, optimizing both reliability and energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle including a glazing, a wiper, a detection unit and a processor is disclosed. The detection unit may be configured to capture images of a vehicle interior portion and a vehicle surrounding. The processor may be configured to determine a precipitation intensity and that the vehicle may be in a stationary state. The processor may further determine that a user located in the vehicle interior portion may be looking out of the vehicle through the glazing based on inputs obtained from the detection unit, responsive to determining that the vehicle may be in the stationary state. The processor may further cause a wiper movement at a speed associated with the precipitation intensity, when the user may be looking out of the vehicle through the glazing.