Google Files A Patent For Gesture-Activated Car Controls

October 18th, 2013 by Important Media Cross-Post

Originally published on Gas2.
By Christopher DeMorro.

Distracted driving is the latest and greatest menace to the children of America, and automakers are both morally and legally obligated to reduce distractions to the driving experience. Voice commands are becoming more commonplace, even in economy cars, and Google is making moves towards in-car gesture-controls with recent patent filing.

The Internet search engine giant has shown a lot of interest in the automotive field, rolling out an autonomous car that has already racked up hundreds of thousands of test drive miles. One of Google’s latest patent applications calls for the use of a depth-camera and laser scanner to capture hand gestures to change radio stations or to adjust the climate control. It’s a lot like hard-wiring a Microsoft XboX Kinect to your car.

This would eliminate taking your eyes off the road, and could also make for cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing console and gauge clusters. It could also go hand-in-hand with self-driving cars, allowing for lane changes with the simple wave of a hand. The system will gauge not just the motion of your hand, but also what gestures (two fingers pointing, a closed fist, a thumbs-up). Also don’t be surprised if Google integrates such systems with apps like Google Maps, and may even bring targeted ads to cars as well.

With talk of a takeover of Tesla Motors and the rush to field autonomous cars, the idea of a Google car driven with just a few hand gestures isn’t so far-fetched anymore.

Source: Engadget

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Tags: autonomous car, gesture, gesture control, Google, Google Maps, Google self-driving car, in-car gesture control, microsoft, motion control, Radio, self-driving car, Tesla, xbox, xbox kinect

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Important Media Cross-Post -- CleanTechnica is one of 18 blogs in the Important Media blog network. With a bit of overlap in coverage, we sometimes repost some of the great content published by our sister sites.

James

but then comes the question if the driver or perhaps the front seat passenger makes an accidental moves or hand gestures???
- Bob_Wallace
  
  The radio station will change.
Wayne Williamson

Not sure I understand the purpose. For many years after self driving cars are on the road, I would expect there to still be a steering wheel.
- Bob_Wallace
  
  You wouldn’t have to take your eyes off the road in order to change the radio station, adjust the heater/AC, do all that stuff that is now controlled via knobs and buttons spread across the dash.
  
  Holding up your fingers in an upward pointing V might turn up the volume, a downward pointing V would turn it down. Easy-pleasy.
  - Wayne Williamson
    
    most of those are on my steering wheel or voice controlled…just being a devils advocate;-)