GM has filed a patent application for a gesture recognition system capable of recognizing specific gestures made outside the vehicle.
The GM patent filing has been assigned application number US 2022/0219644 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on July 14th, 2022. The patent was originally filed on January 11th, 2021, and lists several Michigan-based engineers as the inventors, including Wei Tong, Shuqing Zeng, Xiaofeng F. Song, Mohannad Murad, and Upali P. Mudalige.
The patent describes a gesture recognition system for a vehicle that includes a vehicle body with at least one camera mounted to it. The camera is positioned in such a way as to capture images of objects outside the vehicle body, while also connecting to a selectively operable system and controller, the latter of which includes a gesture recognition system that can process gestures made by a person associated with the vehicle, which then activates a specific onboard vehicle system.
At present, some production cars include a gesture recognition system that can recognize gestures made inside the cabin, which allows users to do things like operate the infotainment system (for example, turning up the stereo volume) without actually touching any of the hard buttons or screens. By contrast, this new patent application system applies the technology the the exterior of the vehicle.
Not only does this open up the possibility for additional controls outside the vehicle, but could also potentially simplify onboard sensor systems for those vehicles already equipped with an outside camera. For example, rather than include a separate motion sensor that unlocks the trunk when a foot is waggled underneath the bumper, the system could use the rear-facing camera to recognize a similar gesture.
Additionally, this exterior gesture recognition system could be useful for those vehicles that do not incorporate traditional exterior controls and systems. One example could be the Cadillac Celestiq show car, which, as GM Authority covered previously, does not have rear door handles.
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Comments
Can you imagine how much money could be saved in the manufacturing of vehicles if they stopped coming up with such crazy ideas. Why don’t they concentrate on the comfort, and safety issues. If they really want to improve a vehicle, they should look at producing a material that would prevent vehicle body rust, and test different products that would replace the metal fenders, doors etc. Of course if they did that cars would last a long time and that would effect the company’s profit. I have an idea and a gesture for the Executive behind this brain wave, but unfortunately they can’t see it, but I will let you guess what it is.
Someone did make a vehicle that will not rust. He was John DeLorean and the DMC -12 is still on the road. It also has the only vertical opening doors that actually work with no issues.
So, Dave, buy a DMC -12 and stop complaining!
DeLoreans can rust…..do some research, also the doors were troublesome from the start. You can read stories about people being stuck in them.
DeLorean was a bit of a con-man, he did well when he was with GM, but how could you not with the resources and talent GM had in the 60’s, but when he went on his own he made a mess out of it…..
So, not a big fan of capitalism, eh? The goal of any business entity in a capitalistic system is to sell product, right? While a car that wouldn’t rust is a fantastic idea (also, probably not actually feasible, given the laws of chemistry; a long-life coating that protects metal and keeps it from corroding for, say, 50 years is likely a better focus), it’s simply not sexy enough to be a selling point across all market segments. Yes, there are smart people whose ears would prick up when told about a non-rusting car, but there are also plenty more dumb ones who are easily distracted by shiny things–they’d just yawn about the rust thing and go back to their mobile phone video games.
Gotta say, for years, I never used cruise control. Didn’t like the idea; didn’t want to use it. Then I drove across the country. Tried cruise control one day. Been using it ever since. I truly don’t think I’d have the same experience with waving my leg and having the rear hatch open–‘course, first I’ d have to have a car with an automatically opening door, which strikes me as unnecessary. But, I dunno, maybe if I was carrying five bags of groceries…but why wouldn’t I be using a cart to haul all those groceries to my car….
how quickly we forget about GM’s own Saturn division, and their polymer body panels that did not rust. Granted there were still some sheet metal panels, but GM was way ahead of their time with the Saturn.
And don’t forget about the Fiero and its plastic body panels.
O goody, another worthless “system” guaranteed to drive-up the already astronomical MSRP and another opportunity for malfunctions and manufacturing delays/restraints due to chip shortages. Just what we need, right Barra ?
You understand that this system would likely be deployed years from now, when the chip shortage has long since been abated, right? Just another opportunity to bash Barr? Take what you can get….
Another great idea from auto engineers who have way too much time on thier hands. This is yet another camera or sensors that will ad to the insurance premuim. It will cost more to fix vehicles so equipped because those extra sensors or cameras will have to be replaced . I wish that GM would pay more attention to improving build quality and long term reliability . Are people so lazy that they cannot walk up to thier vehicle and click or wave the key fob?
Looks like another way to pad the app income of GM.
As someone who has lived with BMWs Gesture Control inside, I will pass! I’m tired of passengers with “talking” hands shutting off the radio or momentarily blasting the radio. Tired of playing a contortionist to get the coffee mug or soda bottle out of the console cup holder without impacting radio operation! No thanks. KISS!
My favorite thing about this is that the patent drawing for this “future technology” is using what looks like a 1990 Lumina as the vehicle…..
“Gesture Recognition”? That is pretty funny if you think about it.
Dumb dumb dumb, how do these cameras and sensors work when cars are covered with frost snow and ice? People won’t even clean their windows there’s no way they’ll clean off these cameras and sensors!
I teach hvac at our local community college and better half of the students thick these kind of options are so cool and must haves. Fortunately after 1-2yrsrs they start realizing more electronics = more problems. WiFi this and that, data highway connections, business automation….. when will it end. Love my 2022 Chevy custom gas and I kept it basic. Has better payload than a Denali too.
More wasted time and money!
Don’t worry I’m sure that the Chinese government already has copies of this patent to use in the future gm vehicles that will be shipped for sale in the U.S. – and Mexico. Actually this gesture technology would probably work great in Italy. My apologies to my Italian friends no insults meant.
But, there is no automatic ‘lights on’ when windshield wipers are turned on even though it’s the law in most places.
Actually, GM models do all have auto lights. And if your windshield wipers are on after a short period, the headlights will automatically engage. Been that way for quite a while.
GM’s had that for at least 2 decades; I remember early 2000’s models with it. If auto lights are selected, and the windshield wipers are on, then low beams will turn on after a delay. The delay depends on the wiper setting, it’s in the manual.
Mean while my 2021 GMC is collecting dust at the local dealership. How about a one finger gesture to your lifter department@!
Tonight I’m gonna party in my 1989 Lumina like it’s 1984
How about instead of figuring out ways to make the world a lazier place fix the issues at hand. The road doing 60 in a 2 ton chunk of plastic and aluminum is not the smartest place to allow people to be lazy. If you want to make self driven cars do it like San Francisco and put them on rails. There was never and will never be a necessity for a self driving car.