Rivian Files Patent For Systems That Controls Driver's Access To Vehicle's Features

Rivian, an electric vehicle startup company, recently submitted a new patent for a control system, which provides access to vehicle functions such as media controls, and semi-autonomous driving capabilities could be customized to the driver. The company submitted the application under U.S. Patent number WO2019200308 in April 2018. It is titled “Methods, Systems, and Media for Controlling Access to Vehicle Features.”

Rivian’s design concept aims to provide effective boundaries within the use of the functions of the vehicle. The vehicle could initially identify the driver. If the driver tries to initiate the vehicle’s semi-autonomous features, the system will decide if the driver is fit to activate the particular function.

Should the driver qualify, the Rivian vehicle will allow the function to be executed. But, if the vehicle finds that the driver is not qualified, it will restrict the feature and displays a notification showing that the requested function is not available. The decision-making process is executed within the computer of the vehicle, enabling it to link to what Rivian dubs as the Communication Network.

The Rivian Communication Network then taps on a server tasked to make the final decision. This server is in-charge in determining the accessibility of the driver to a particular feature. With the incredible advances in technology these days, some drivers may not be qualified or equipped enough to access certain features that semi-autonomous cars are capable of offering.

The restriction of the features will provide the user’s safety and prevent a potentially disastrous scenario from happening. Primarily, the objective of self-automated driving is to create a far safer environment for all vehicles and passengers while on the road. Only a single accident with fully-autonomous features or semi-autonomous driving would undoubtedly set the electric car or self-driving industry two steps backward.

The patent application filed by Rivian aims to prevent this from taking place by simply limiting the driver’s access to certain features of the vehicle if he or she is not qualified to operate it could be very helpful in securing the safety of the driver and the vehicle passengers.