Steering suppression system for autonomous vehicles and autonomous vehicles

Abstract

To suppress contact with a steering member by a fellow passenger during automatic driving.SOLUTION: A steering suppressing device for an automatic driving vehicle is used for the automatic driving vehicle comprising a driver's seat configured to be switchable between a first seat position for normal driving time where the driver operates a steering member and a second seat position where a backrest portion is positioned closer to the steering member than at the first seat position. The steering suppressing device comprises a steering member cover. The steering member cover comprises: a support portion that is attached to the backrest portion of the driver's seat at the second seat position and supports the steering member cover with respect to the backrest portion; and a housing portion that accommodates the steering member in a non-contact manner in a state that the support portion is attached to the backrest portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering suppression device for an autonomous vehicle and an autonomous vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In an autonomous vehicle, when traveling in an autonomous driving mode (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "during autonomous driving") in which the control system mainly bears the responsibility for controlling and monitoring the driving state of the vehicle including steering, a steering member operated by a driver such as a steering wheel, and If the mechanical connection between the steering gear mechanism such as a rack and pinion is maintained, there is a concern that contact with the steering member by a passenger may cause steering of the steering wheel that is not in the driving schedule, which may affect driving.

[0003] Here, in a vehicle adopting a steer-by-wire system, it is possible to avoid steering caused by contact with the steering member by disconnecting the connection between the steering member and the steering gear mechanism during autonomous driving.

[0004] On the other hand, in a vehicle that does not adopt a steer-by-wire system and always maintains the mechanical connection between the steering member and the steering gear mechanism, since the steering wheel interlocks with the movement of the steering member even during autonomous driving, there is still a concern about the impact of contact with the steering member on driving.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for avoiding interference of the steering wheel or the like when used outside of driving by storing the steering wheel and the steering shaft in the dashboard in front of the driver's seat when the driver's seat is used for purposes other than driving.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0007] However, adopting the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 would require significant changes not only to the dashboard but also to the structure of the steering mechanism, particularly the steering shaft. This would increase development man-hours and present other drawbacks, such as making adoption difficult due to design constraints.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a steering suppression device for an autonomous vehicle and an autonomous vehicle that can suppress contact with the steering member by an occupant during autonomous driving, while still allowing the movement of the steering member that is linked to the steering wheel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the aforementioned problems, the steering suppression device for an autonomous vehicle according to the present invention is: Equipped with a driver's seat, A first seat position during normal driving when the driver operates the steering member, and a position where the backrest is closer to the steering member than the first seat position. , during autonomous driving when the aforementioned driver is not seated The second seat position and, The aforementioned driver's seat It is configured to be switchable. ta self A steering control device for a motor vehicle, In a system where the mechanical connection between the steering member and the steering wheel of the autonomous vehicle is maintained at all times, The steering member cover is provided, and the steering member cover is attached to the backrest of the driver's seat at the second seat position, and includes a support portion that supports the steering member cover relative to the backrest, The overall shape is box-like, With the support portion attached to the backrest portion, The movement of the steering member, which is linked to the steering wheel, is not hindered by contact with the steering member cover. The steering member is housed in a non-contact manner. This prevents the occupant from making contact with the steering member. It comprises a storage compartment and a

[0010] Furthermore, the autonomous vehicle according to the present invention is configured to be switchable between a normal driving mode in which the direction of the steering wheels is changed by the driver operating a steering member, and an autonomous driving mode in which the direction of the steering wheels is changed automatically without the driver operating the steering member, wherein the mechanical connection between the steering member and the steering wheels is maintained even in the autonomous driving mode, and the driver's seat is configured to be switchable between a first seat position in the normal driving mode and a second seat position in the autonomous driving mode in which the backrest is closer to the steering member than in the first seat position, and is equipped with a steering member cover, the steering member cover is attached to the backrest of the driver's seat in the second seat position, and has a support part that supports the steering member cover with respect to the backrest, and with the support part attached to the backrest, The movement of the steering member, which is linked to the steering wheel, is not hindered by contact with the steering member cover. It includes a housing section for housing the steering member in a non-contact manner. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, by housing the steering member in a steering member cover, it is possible to suppress contact with the steering member by the occupant and avoid situations in which steering turns occur that are not part of the driving schedule during autonomous driving. Here, since housing by the steering member cover is non-contact with the steering member, it is possible to avoid situations in which the movement of the steering member is hindered by the steering member cover, and thus prevent the installation of the steering member cover from affecting the drivability during autonomous driving. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the driver's seat when a steering member cover according to one embodiment of the present invention is installed. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the steering component cover installed in the driver's seat, as viewed from behind the driver's seat. [Figure 3]It is a schematic diagram showing a steering member cover mounted on a driver's seat as viewed from the front of the driver's seat. [Figure 4] It is a schematic diagram showing a steering member cover mounted on a driver's seat as viewed from above the driver's seat. [Figure 5] It is a flowchart showing the content of an automatic driving mode release determination routine. [Figure 6] It is a schematic diagram showing a support portion of a steering member cover according to another embodiment of the present invention and the configuration around it. [Figure 7] It is a schematic diagram showing a support portion of a steering member cover according to yet another embodiment of the present invention and the configuration around it.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 schematically shows the state of the driver's seat S when the steering member cover 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. In FIG. 1, the driver's seat S in the state when the steering member cover 1 is mounted is shown by a solid line, and the driver's seat S' in the state when the steering member cover 1 is not mounted is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0015] FIGS. 2 to 4 respectively show the steering member cover 1 mounted on the driver's seat S. FIG. 2 shows the state of the steering member cover 1 as viewed from behind the driver's seat S, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows the state of the steering member cover 1 as viewed from the front of the driver's seat S, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows the state of the steering member cover 1 as viewed from above the driver's seat S, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 4(a) shows a state in which the first cover member 31 of the housing portion 3 of the steering member cover 1 is removed and only the second cover member 32 is attached. FIG. 4(b) shows a state in which both the first cover member 31 and the second cover member 32 are attached.

[0017] Referring appropriately to FIGS. 2 to 4 and mainly based on FIG. 1, the configuration of the steering member cover 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0018] The steering member cover 1 is used when the vehicle is traveling in the automatic driving mode in an autonomous vehicle. In this embodiment, the "automatic driving mode" refers to a driving mode in which the control system mainly bears the responsibility for controlling and monitoring the driving state of the vehicle including steering. For example, it corresponds to a driving mode with an automatic driving level of level 4 or higher as described in the "Safety Technology Guidelines for Autonomous Vehicles" of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. By calling the driving mode in which the driver performs the driving operation of the vehicle and the driver is responsible for monitoring the driving state the normal driving mode, the driving in the automatic driving mode and the driving in the normal driving mode are distinguished. An autonomous vehicle refers to a vehicle in which the automatic driving mode is set as a driving mode and can travel in the automatic driving mode. It includes not only vehicles that can travel only in the automatic driving mode but also vehicles that can switch the driving mode between the automatic driving mode and the normal driving mode and travel. When the vehicle is traveling in a driving mode other than the automatic driving mode, specifically, when traveling in the normal driving mode, the steering member cover 1 is removed from the driver's seat S and stored in the trunk or luggage space of the vehicle.

[0019] As will be described later, in this embodiment, the autonomous vehicle does not have a so-called steer-by-wire mechanism, and the mechanical connection between the steering wheel WH and the steering wheel (not shown) is always maintained, that is, it is maintained not only when traveling in the normal driving mode but also when traveling in the automatic driving mode. The steering wheel WH corresponds to the "steering member" according to this embodiment.

[0020] The position P of the driver's seat S is switched between when traveling in the normal driving mode and when traveling in the automatic driving mode.

[0021] Specifically, the driver's seat S is set to the first seat position P1 when driving in normal driving mode, and to the second seat position P2 when driving in automatic driving mode. In the first seat position P1, the headrest HR is attached to the backrest S1 of the driver's seat S, and the backrest S1 and headrest HR are located relatively far from the steering wheel WH. In contrast, in the second seat position P2, the backrest S1 of the driver's seat S is located closer to the steering wheel WH than in the first seat position P1, the headrest HR is removed from the headrest mounting part S1a of the backrest S1, and the steering member cover (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "wheel cover") 1 is attached. In this embodiment, the headrest HR is positioned as an element that constitutes part of the backrest S1.

[0022] Switching between the first seat position P1 and the second seat position P2 can be achieved by changing the angle α that the backrest S1 of the driver's seat S makes with respect to the seat portion S2.

[0023] Specifically, when driving in autonomous driving mode, the backrest S1 is tilted forward, narrowing the angle α that the backrest S1 makes with the seat S2, thereby setting the driver's seat S to the second seat position P2. In contrast, when driving in normal driving mode, the forward tilt of the backrest S1 is released, widening the angle α that the backrest S1 makes with the seat S2, thereby setting the driver's seat S to the first seat position P1. This switching between positions P1 and P2 of the driver's seat S may also be done by a forward tilt function that is generally provided in the driver's seat of a vehicle.

[0024] The wheel cover 1 is designed to prevent or avoid contact between the steering wheel WH and the occupant of the autonomous vehicle during autonomous driving by completely surrounding the steering wheel WH when the vehicle is driving in autonomous driving mode. In this embodiment, the wheel cover 1 surrounds the steering wheel WH from all directions: front, rear, left and right sides, above, and below, relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0025] The wheel cover 1 is broadly composed of a support section 2 and a housing section 3.

[0026] The support part 2 is attached to the driver's seat S at the second seat position P2, particularly to its backrest S1, and supports the wheel cover 1 against the backrest S1. In this embodiment, the support part 2 is attached to the driver's seat S using the headrest mounting part S1a that is normally used when attaching and detaching the headrest HR to the driver's seat S. That is, the support part 2 has a shaft-shaped part 21 that can be inserted into the insertion hole h1 of the headrest HR that is normally provided on the headrest mounting part S1a, and this is done by inserting this shaft-shaped part 21 into the insertion hole h1 of the headrest HR. The number of shaft-shaped parts 21 can be appropriately set according to the number of insertion holes h1 of the headrest HR. For example, if the headrest HR has one insertion hole h1 on the left and one on the right, for a total of two, the support part 2 is provided with two shaft-shaped parts 21, 21, and inserted into each of the two insertion holes h1, h1.

[0027] The headrest mounting portion S1a may be equipped with a locking mechanism 4 to prevent the headrest HR from unintentionally falling off the backrest portion S1, and this locking mechanism 4 can be used in combination with the wheel cover 1 to prevent it from falling off. The locking mechanism 4 suppresses the removal of the wheel cover 1 from the headrest mounting portion S1a when the shaft portion 21 of the support portion 2 is inserted into the insertion hole h1 of the headrest HR, while allowing the wheel cover 1 to be removed from the headrest mounting portion S1a based on operation by the passenger.

[0028] For example, the locking mechanism 4 includes a recess or depression formed on the outer circumference of the shaft-shaped portion 21, and moves the operating piece 41 of the headrest mounting portion S1a back and forth in the radial direction relative to the shaft-shaped portion 21, engaging the convex or projection normally present on the operating piece 41 with this recess or depression, thereby restricting the movement of the shaft-shaped portion 21 and preventing the wheel cover 1 from falling off.

[0029] The housing section 3 is connected to the support section 2, and when the support section 2 is attached to the backrest section S1 of the driver's seat S, it protrudes forward from the front of the backrest section S1 and houses the steering wheel WH. In this embodiment, the support section 2 and the housing section 3 are not detachable and always remain connected.

[0030] The housing section 3 is formed by dividing it into a first cover member 31 and a second cover member 32. The first cover member 31 primarily serves to house the steering wheel WH, while the second cover member 32 primarily serves to close the opening through which the steering wheel WH passes when it is housed in the first cover member 31. In this embodiment, the second cover member 32 not only closes the opening of the first cover member 31 but also serves to supplement the support strength of the first cover member 31.

[0031] Specifically, the first cover member 31 is box-shaped and made entirely of resin or the like, and has a housing chamber 31a that forms a space capable of enclosing the entire steering wheel WH, and an opening 31b that continues downward from the space of the housing chamber 31a and forms an opening through which the steering wheel WH can pass when inserting or removing the steering wheel WH into the housing chamber 31a. The housing chamber 31a encloses the steering wheel WH from the front, rear, left and right sides, and above, in other words, from all directions except below. That is, the housing chamber 31a is in communication with the outside only through the opening 31b that continues substantially downward. The reason for saying "substantially" here is that the housing chamber 31a has an elongated hole s that continues from the internal space, through which the steering shaft SH passes when inserting or removing the steering wheel WH, and where the steering shaft SH is located after the steering wheel WH has been housed. The second cover member 32 closes the opening 31b when actually used.

[0032] The second cover member 32 is sandwiched between the first cover member 31 and the backrest S1 when the wheel cover 1 is attached to the backrest S1 of the driver's seat S, and is compressed from above and below, fixing it in the vertical direction relative to the backrest S1, and also abutting against the opening 31b of the first cover member 31 from below, closing the opening. The position of the second cover member 32 in directions other than vertical, i.e., in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions, is fixed in cooperation with the second cover member 32 and the headrest mounting portion S1a.

[0033] Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the second cover member 32 has a recess c1 into which the headrest mounting portion S1a can be positioned. This recess c1 has walls that are roughly U-shaped in plan view and are open to the sides. The restraint from the headrest mounting portion S1a is received in the front-to-back direction by the front and rear walls, and in the left-to-right direction by the side walls. Similar recesses c1 are formed on both the left and right sides, and the second cover member 32 is fixed in the left-to-right direction by being sandwiched from both sides by the headrest mounting portion S1a.

[0034] As mentioned earlier, the steering wheel WH housed in the first cover member 31 or housing section 31a is in a non-contact state with respect to the housing section 31a. In other words, the steering wheel WH is housed in a state in which its rotational movement in conjunction with the steering wheel is not hindered by contact with the housing section 31a.

[0035] Here, "non-contact" with respect to housing the steering wheel WH means that the rotational movement of the steering wheel WH, which is linked to the steering wheel, is not substantially hindered, and does not mean that contact that applies force to the steering wheel WH in directions other than rotation is eliminated. For example, in order to provide more stable support for the wheel cover 1, especially the housing portion 31, it is possible to form a contact point at the rotation center of the steering wheel WH and support the wheel cover 1 with respect to the steering wheel WH at this contact point.

[0036] In addition to the above, this embodiment is provided with an operation detection unit (unlock switch 202) that detects when the lock mechanism 4 of the headrest mounting part S1a is being operated, and a driving mode selection unit (controller 101) that selects the driving mode of the autonomous vehicle based on the signal output from the operation detection unit.

[0037] When the automatic driving mode is selected as the driving mode, the driving mode selection unit determines, based on the output signal from the operation detection unit, whether or not it is possible to continue driving in automatic driving mode. If it determines that it is not possible to continue, it prohibits driving in automatic driving mode and switches to driving in evasive mode.

[0038] The driving mode selection unit can be implemented by a controller 101, which is configured as an electronic control unit.

[0039] In this embodiment, a wheel cover sensor 201 is provided to detect that the wheel cover 1 is attached to the headrest mounting portion S1a, and the output signal of the wheel cover sensor 201 is input to the controller 101.

[0040] Furthermore, a lock release switch 202 is incorporated into the headrest mounting portion S1a, and the lock release switch 202 detects when the operating piece 41 of the headrest mounting portion S1a is being operated and outputs it as an electrical signal. The lock release switch 202 is configured as, for example, a momentary switch and is capable of detecting the duration Δt of the operation on the operating piece 41. Similar to the wheel cover sensor 201, the output signal of the lock release switch 202 is also input to the controller 101. The lock release switch 202 constitutes the operation detection unit according to this embodiment. The lock release switch 202 can also serve as the wheel cover sensor 201. In other words, the lock release switch 202 is given a sensor function that detects when the wheel cover 1 is attached to the headrest mounting portion S1a. In this case, the dedicated wheel cover sensor 201 can be eliminated.

[0041] The seat position sensor 203 detects when the driver's seat S is tilted forward and in a predetermined forward-leaning state. In this embodiment, the seat position sensor 203 outputs a signal indicating that the driver's seat S is in a forward-leaning state when the driver's seat S is tilted as far forward as possible, in other words, when the angle α that the backrest portion S1 of the driver's seat S makes with respect to the seat portion S2 is the smallest angle according to the settings.

[0042] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of the automatic driving mode deactivation determination routine. The automatic driving mode deactivation determination routine is repeatedly executed by the controller 101 while driving in automatic driving mode.

[0043] In S101, it is determined whether the automatic driving mode is selected as the driving mode and whether the vehicle is currently driving in automatic driving mode. If the vehicle is currently driving in automatic driving mode, the process proceeds to S102; otherwise, the control for this routine ends. In this embodiment, the case where the vehicle is not currently driving in automatic driving mode corresponds to the case where the normal driving mode is selected as the driving mode and the vehicle is currently driving in normal driving mode. The selection of the driving mode, that is, the switching between normal driving mode and automatic driving mode, is performed, for example, by a remote operations manager. As shown in Figure 1, the controller 101 receives a mode instruction signal transmitted wirelessly from the remote control unit operated by the operations manager, and executes driving in automatic driving mode if it is instructed to select automatic driving mode or to drive in automatic driving mode. The controller 101 is equipped with a wireless receiver capable of receiving the mode instruction signal. In addition to being instructed to drive in automatic driving mode, the driver's seat S is in a forward-tilted position, the headrest HR is removed from the headrest mounting part S1a, and the wheel cover 1 is attached. In addition to this, driving in automatic driving mode may be executed only when all of the following conditions are met: the driver's seat S is tilted forward, the headrest HR is removed from the headrest mounting part S1a, and the wheel cover 1 is attached.

[0044] S102 reads the output signal from the unlock switch 202.

[0045] In S103, based on the output signal of the unlock switch 202, measurement of the duration of operation on the operating piece 41 of the headrest mounting part S1a (hereinafter referred to as "determination time") Δt is started.

[0046] In S104, it is determined whether the determination time Δt is equal to or longer than a predetermined time Δtsl. If it is equal to or longer than the predetermined time Δtsl, it is determined that the unlock switch 202 is in the ON state, and the process proceeds to S107. If it is shorter than the predetermined time Δtsl, it is determined that the unlock switch 202 is not in the ON state but in the OFF state, and the process proceeds to S109. The predetermined time Δtsl is, for example, 1 second. The predetermined time Δtsl can be set appropriately, taking into account the time required to remove the headrest HR.

[0047] In S105, the automatic driving mode is deactivated.

[0048] In S106, select the evacuation mode as the driving mode.

[0049] In S107, the automatic driving mode is selected as the driving mode.

[0050] In other words, in S103 to S107, the determination time Δt, which is the duration of the operation on the unlock switch 202, is measured (S103). If the determination time Δt is the predetermined time Δtsl or longer, and the operation on the unlock switch 202 continues for the predetermined time Δtsl (affirmative determination in S104), it is determined that the unlock switch 202 is in the ON state. On the other hand, if the determination time Δt is shorter than the predetermined time Δtsl, and the unlock switch 202 is not operated, or if it is operated but the operation is interrupted before reaching the predetermined time Δtsl (negative determination in S104), it is determined that the unlock switch 202 is in the OFF state. If it is determined that the lock release switch 202 is in the ON state, the automatic driving mode is deactivated (S105), driving in automatic driving mode is stopped, and the escape mode is selected as the driving mode (S106). If it is determined that the lock release switch 202 is in the OFF state, the automatic driving mode is selected as the driving mode and driving in automatic driving mode is continued (S107).

[0051] In this embodiment, "evacuation mode" refers to a driving mode in which the steering wheels are turned in a way that is not part of the driving schedule according to the route to the destination, thereby stopping the autonomous vehicle in a safe place, such as the shoulder of the road. In driving in evacuation mode, it is possible to implement control that reduces the vehicle's driving force to a level lower than the target driving force in the autonomous driving mode, regardless of traffic conditions such as the speed limit of the road being driven on or the distance to the vehicle ahead. For example, the vehicle is driven at a constant speed lower than the target vehicle speed according to the speed limit, etc., towards a stopping position such as the shoulder of the road.

[0052] The steering member cover (wheel cover) 1 according to this embodiment has the above configuration, and the effects obtained by this embodiment will be described below.

[0053] Firstly, by housing the steering wheel WH in the housing section 3, it is possible to suppress contact with the steering wheel WH by the occupant. This prevents unintentional contact with the steering wheel WH from causing steering turns that are not part of the driving schedule and affecting the driving when the vehicle is driven in an automated driving mode, where the control system is primarily responsible for controlling and monitoring the vehicle's driving state.

[0054] Here, by housing the steering wheel WH in a non-contact manner using the housing section 3, the movement of the steering wheel WH, which is linked to the steering wheels, is permitted. In an autonomous vehicle where the mechanical connection between the steering wheel WH and steering shaft SH and the steering gear mechanism such as a rack and pinion is maintained even during autonomous driving, it is possible to avoid the wheel cover 1 hindering the movement of the steering wheel WH and causing problems with driving in autonomous driving mode.

[0055] Furthermore, by using the backrest S1 of the driver's seat S located at the second seat position P2 to attach the wheel cover 1, the wheel cover 1 can be stably supported, the wheel cover 1 can be kept away from occupants while in use, the space for the rear seats can be secured, the presence of the wheel cover 1 does not excessively impair the comfort of the vehicle interior, and contact with the wheel cover 1 can be more reliably suppressed.

[0056] Furthermore, by switching from the first seat position P1 to the second seat position P2 by tilting the backrest S1 of the driver's seat S forward, it is possible to switch between the first seat position P1 and the second seat position P2 using the driver's seat S that is normally provided in an autonomous vehicle, without requiring any special mechanism to be installed in the driver's seat S.

[0057] Furthermore, by tilting the backrest S1 forward and bringing it closer to the steering wheel WH, it is possible to prevent situations where an occupant mischievously sits in the driver's seat S while the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, thereby more reliably preventing contact with the steering wheel WH.

[0058] In this case, at the second seat position P2, the backrest portion S1 is closer to the steering wheel WH, which eliminates the need to make the storage portion 3 protrude significantly from the front of the backrest portion S1, thus also promoting the miniaturization of the wheel cover 1.

[0059] Secondly, by using the headrest mounting part S1a, which is commonly found in vehicles, to attach the wheel cover 1, it is possible to attach the wheel cover 1 without requiring major changes to the existing structure. This contributes to reducing the cost required for installing the wheel cover 1, which is advantageous for realizing relatively low-cost autonomous vehicles.

[0060] Thirdly, the housing portion 3 of the wheel cover 1 is composed of a first cover member 31 and a second cover member 32. The steering wheel WH is housed in the housing chamber 31a of the first cover member 31, and the opening 31b of the first cover member 31 is closed by the second cover member 32. Furthermore, the second cover member 32 is sandwiched between the first cover member 31 and the backrest portion S1 of the driver's seat S. This configuration allows the entire steering wheel WH to be enclosed by the first cover member 31, while eliminating the need for parts specifically used for attaching the second cover member 32. This suppresses the increase in the number of parts required for the installation of the wheel cover 1, thereby further reducing costs.

[0061] Fourthly, by using the insertion hole h1 of the headrest HR and inserting the support part 2 of the wheel cover 1 into this insertion hole h1 to attach the wheel cover 1, it is possible to further reduce costs by utilizing existing equipment.

[0062] Fifth, the locking mechanism 4 makes it possible to prevent the wheel cover 1 from being removed or detached unintentionally, for example, by the rider operating the locking mechanism 4, thereby maintaining the wheel cover 1 attached to the headrest mounting part S1a and more reliably avoiding unintended contact with the steering wheel WH.

[0063] Sixth, the operation detection unit (lock release switch 202) detects that the lock mechanism 4 is being operated, and if the operation of the lock mechanism 4 continues for a predetermined time Δtsl or longer, driving in automatic driving mode is prohibited. This allows for earlier prohibition of driving in automatic driving mode and a transition to driving in evasive mode compared to switching after the wheel cover 1 is actually removed (preferably, the transition to another driving mode, i.e., driving in evasive mode, is already completed by the time the wheel cover 1 is removed), thus avoiding situations where unintended contact with the steering wheel WH affects actual driving.

[0064] Here, the prohibition of driving in automatic driving mode is implemented after a predetermined time Δtsl has elapsed. In this embodiment, if the operation on the operating piece 41 of the headrest mounting part S1a continues for a predetermined time Δtsl or longer, it is determined that the lock release switch 202 is in the ON state, and driving in automatic driving mode is prohibited. This prevents hasty judgments in cases where the operation of the lock mechanism 4 is temporary and merely an accidental touch of the lock mechanism 4.

[0065] Seventh, if the operation of the locking mechanism 4 continues for a predetermined time Δtsl or longer, driving in automatic driving mode is prohibited, and the vehicle is moved to the side by selecting the escape mode as the driving mode. This prevents the continuation of automatic driving mode in situations where unintended contact with the steering wheel WH may occur, thereby ensuring safety.

[0066] Other embodiments of the present invention are described below.

[0067] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the support portion 2 and its surrounding structure of a wheel cover (steering member cover) 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6(a) shows a cross-sectional view of the wheel cover 1 from the side, and Figure 6(b) shows the wheel cover 1 with the first cover member 31 of the housing portion 3 removed.

[0068] In this embodiment, the first cover member 31 of the housing 3 has a protruding portion p formed to project downward from its bottom surface, as shown in Figure 6(a), and the second cover member 32 has a through hole h2 formed at a position corresponding to the protruding portion p of the first cover member 31, penetrating the second cover member 32 in its thickness direction.

[0069] When installing the wheel cover 1, if the second cover member 32 is sandwiched between the first cover member 31 and the backrest portion S1 of the driver's seat S, the projection p of the first cover member 31 is inserted into the through hole h2 of the second cover member 32, and the two engage with each other. This suppresses misalignment between the first cover member 31 and the second cover member 32 when the wheel cover 1 is installed, making it possible to securely install the wheel cover 1.

[0070] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the support portion 2 and its surrounding area of ​​a wheel cover (steering member cover) 1 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, and, similar to Figure 6(b), it shows the wheel cover 1 with the first cover member 31 of the housing portion 3 removed.

[0071] In the example shown in Figure 4, the second cover member 32 of the housing 3 has a recess c1 into which the headrest mounting portion S1a can be positioned. This recess c1 has a U-shape in cross-section when viewed from above and is open to the side. Similar recesses c1 are formed on both the left and right sides, and the second cover member 32 is fixed in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions by being sandwiched from both sides by the headrest mounting portion S1a.

[0072] In contrast, in this embodiment, the second cover member 32 has a recess c2 that can surround the headrest mounting portion S1a from all four sides (front, rear, left, and right), and the headrest mounting portion S1a is positioned in this recess c2. The second cover member 32 receives restraint from the headrest mounting portion S1a in the front-rear direction by its front and rear wall surfaces, and in the left-right direction by its side wall surfaces.

[0073] This suppresses misalignment between the first cover member 31 and the second cover member when the wheel cover 1 is attached, making it possible to securely install the wheel cover 1.

[0074] Furthermore, since the headrest mounting portion S1a is surrounded from all four sides, including the left and right, by the second cover member 32, it is possible to more reliably prevent accidental operation due to unintentional contact with the locking mechanism 4 or the operating piece 41.

[0075] In the above explanation, the switching between the first seat position P1 and the second seat position P2 was achieved by changing the angle α that the backrest S1 of the driver's seat S makes with respect to the seat S2. The switching between positions P1 and P2 of the driver's seat S is not limited to this, and can also be achieved by changing the orientation of the driver's seat S itself. Specifically, the entire driver's seat S is rotated around a vertical axis while maintaining the angle α that the backrest S1 makes with respect to the seat S2. In this case, when the driver's seat S is in the first seat position P1, it faces the steering wheel WH, and when it is in the second seat position P2, it faces away from the steering wheel WH.

[0076] Furthermore, the wheel cover 1 may be configured such that the housing section 3 is rotatable relative to the support section 2. For example, the connecting section 22 (Figure 1) that connects the support section 2 and the housing section 3 may have an articulated structure, allowing the housing section 3 to rotate about a horizontal axis relative to the support section 2. This makes it possible to adjust the posture of the wheel cover 1 or housing section 3 to match the height or orientation of the steering wheel WH, thereby providing a better housing for the steering wheel WH.

[0077] The person who switches the driving mode, that is, selects between normal driving mode and automatic driving mode, is not limited to the operations manager at a remote location, but may also be the driver riding in the autonomous vehicle. In this case, a mode selection switch that can be manually operated by the driver is installed, and the driver uses the mode selection switch to select between normal driving mode and automatic driving mode. Here, "driver" refers to the person responsible for selecting the driving mode or the person who has the qualifications to drive the autonomous vehicle, and usually refers to the person who drives the autonomous vehicle when driving in normal driving mode, and is distinguished from other passengers. The controller 101 receives the output signal of the mode selection switch instead of the mode command signal (Figure 1), and can determine whether the selected driving mode is normal driving mode or automatic driving mode. When driving in automatic driving mode, the driver does not sit in the driver's seat S, but sits in an auxiliary seat or a rear seat. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 1...Wheel cover (steering component cover), 2...Support part, 21...Shaft-shaped part, 22...Connecting part, 3...Housing part, 31...First cover member, 31a...Housing chamber, 31b...Opening, 32...Second cover member, 4...Locking mechanism, 41...Operating piece, S...Driver's seat, S1...Backrest part, S1a...Headrest mounting part, S2...Seat part, WH...Steering wheel (steering component), SH...Steering shaft, HR...Headrest, P1...First seat position, P2...Second seat position, 101...Controller, 201...Mode selection switch, 202...Release switch, 203...Seat position sensor.

Claims

1. A steering suppression device for an autonomous vehicle, comprising a driver's seat, wherein the driver's seat is switchable between a first seat position during normal driving in which the driver operates the steering member, and a second seat position during autonomous driving in which the backrest is closer to the steering member than in the first seat position, and the driver is not seated, wherein the mechanical connection between the steering member and the steering wheel of the autonomous vehicle is constantly maintained, Equipped with a steering component cover, The steering member cover is A support portion attached to the backrest of the driver's seat at the second seat position, which supports the steering member cover relative to the backrest, The overall structure is box-shaped, and with the support portion attached to the backrest portion, the steering member is housed in a non-contact manner so that the movement of the steering member, which is linked to the steering wheel, is not hindered by contact with the steering member cover, thereby preventing the occupant from contacting the steering member, and the housing portion prevents the occupant from contacting the steering member, A steering suppression device for autonomous vehicles.

2. The steering suppression device for an autonomous vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the support portion is configured to be detachably attached to a headrest mounting portion provided on the backrest portion.

3. The aforementioned housing section is A first cover member having a housing chamber that forms a space capable of non-contacting the steering member, and an opening that extends downward from the space of the housing chamber and forms an opening through which the steering member can pass when inserting or removing the steering member from the housing chamber, With the support portion attached to the headrest mounting portion, a second cover member is sandwiched between the first cover member and the backrest portion and configured to close the opening from below, A steering suppression device for an autonomous vehicle according to claim 2, comprising:

4. The support portion is attached to the headrest mounting portion by inserting it into the insertion hole of the headrest provided in the headrest mounting portion. Steering suppression device for an autonomous vehicle according to claim 2.

5. The headrest mounting portion is provided with a locking mechanism configured to prevent the steering member cover from being removed from the headrest mounting portion when the support portion is inserted into the insertion hole of the headrest, while allowing the steering member cover to be removed from the headrest mounting portion by operation by the passenger. Steering suppression device for an autonomous vehicle according to claim 4.

6. An operation detection unit that detects that the locking mechanism is being operated, If the operation detection unit detects that the lock mechanism has been operated for a predetermined period of time or longer, the driving mode selection unit prohibits driving in automatic driving mode. The steering suppression device for an autonomous vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising:

7. The aforementioned driving mode selection unit prohibits driving in the automatic driving mode and selects an escape mode that causes the steering wheels to make a turn not included in the driving schedule, thereby stopping the automatic vehicle. Steering suppression device for an autonomous vehicle according to claim 6.

8. An autonomous vehicle configured to be switchable between a normal driving mode in which the direction of the steering wheels is changed by the driver operating the steering member, and an automatic driving mode in which the direction of the steering wheels is changed automatically without the driver operating the steering member, In a system in which the mechanical connection between the steering member and the steering wheel is maintained even when driving in the automatic driving mode, The driver's seat is configured to be switchable between a first seat position in the normal driving mode and a second seat position in the automatic driving mode, in which the backrest is closer to the steering member than in the first seat position. Equipped with a steering component cover, The steering member cover is A support portion attached to the backrest of the driver's seat at the second seat position, which supports the steering member cover relative to the backrest, With the support portion attached to the backrest portion, a housing portion that houses the steering member in a non-contact manner so that the movement of the steering member, which is linked to the steering wheel, is not hindered by contact with the steering member cover, An autonomous vehicle equipped with these features.

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