Asymmetric Lane Keeping Steering Force Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lane departure warning systems require complete deactivation during intentional lane changes, which can lead to increased risk of the vehicle drifting from its lane, especially when changing lanes, as drivers must exert additional force to overcome system intervention, and this can be hazardous, particularly in scenarios like entering a left-hand bend.
Innovation Solution
The system modifies the steering force's dependence on the vehicle's transverse position asymmetrically to facilitate lane changes in the intended direction while maintaining corrective interventions for deviations, recognizing the driver's intention and direction of lane change, and optionally using distance radar to enhance detection, ensuring the lane keeping function remains active to prevent unintended lane deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lane keeping function is completely deactivated when lane change intention is detected, then the driver can easily change lanes without overcoming system forces, but the vehicle may drift too far from the lane center in the opposite direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by modifying the steering force characteristics differently for left and right directions. When a lane change to the left is detected, the system reduces or deactivates corrective forces only in the left direction while maintaining them in the right direction. This asymmetric approach facilitates the intended lane change while preventing unintended drift in the opposite direction, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the force characteristics based on the detected lane change intention. The control device modifies the force dependence on transverse position in real-time, transitioning from a symmetric force profile to an asymmetric one during the lane change maneuver. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to provide different levels of assistance and restriction depending on the driving context, simultaneously improving ease of lane change and maintaining lane position control.
2Reliability
If the lane keeping function remains fully active during lane change, then the vehicle maintains strict lane center control, but the driver must exert greater force to overcome the system's corrective intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the symmetric corrective force applied by the lane keeping system when lane change intention is detected. By applying asymmetry, the system selectively reduces forces in the direction of intended lane change while maintaining them in the opposite direction, thereby easing the driver's steering effort for the intended maneuver while preserving safety controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by differentiating the force characteristics in different spatial directions. Instead of uniformly reducing all corrective forces, the patent selectively modifies the force profile only in the direction relevant to the detected lane change intention, leaving the force characteristics unchanged in the opposite direction. This localized modification optimizes ease of operation for the specific maneuver while maintaining overall lane position control.
3Device complexity
If the system recognizes only the intention to change lanes without direction, then the lane keeping function can be simplified, but it cannot provide asymmetric force modification to facilitate the specific lane change direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the existing direction indicator system, which already provides directional information for lane changes. By integrating this existing multi-functional component into the lane keeping system, the patent enables asymmetric force modification without adding complex new detection mechanisms. The direction indicator serves dual purposes: its original function and providing lane change direction information for asymmetric control.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a lane holding assistant for motor vehicles comprising a sensor unit for detecting the lanes (26, 28) on the carriageway, a control unit, which exerts a force (F) on the steering system of the vehicle (34) by means of an actuator, in order to maintain the vehicle in its lane and a unit for identifying the driver's intention to change lanes. The assistant is characterised in that the control unit is configured to modify the force (F; 40) that is exerted on the steering system asymmetrically in order to change lanes, when the intention to change lanes has been identified. The force is reduced, in particular to zero, in the direction of the target lane (28). The force remains unchanged in the opposite direction.