Autonomous Vehicle Steering Joint for Manual Override
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles without a steering wheel in the passenger compartment face challenges in adjusting the steering angle during actuator malfunctions, as there is no means to manually change the tire angle, making it difficult to move the vehicle to a safer location.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle design with a steering device in a separate accommodating room, equipped with a joint device that allows a rod-shaped member to be inserted from the passenger compartment to mechanically connect with the gear mechanism, enabling manual adjustment of the steering angle through a simple configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the steering wheel is removed from the passenger compartment to increase space and achieve autonomous driving, then the space for occupants is increased and automation is improved, but the ability to manually adjust steering angle during actuator malfunction is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel is extracted from the passenger compartment and relocated to the accommodating room where the steering device is located. This allows the passenger compartment to have more space while maintaining the ability to manually steer by accessing the steering wheel at its new location
Solution Approach 2:
A transmission mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the steering wheel (in the accommodating room) and the steered shaft (in the passenger compartment). This allows manual steering input to be transmitted through the partition member to the tires, maintaining manual control capability despite the spatial separation
2Reliability
If the steering wheel is kept in the passenger compartment for manual steering capability, then the ability to manually adjust steering angle is maintained, but the space for occupants is reduced and autonomous driving functionality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel is extracted from the traditional location in the passenger compartment and relocated to the accommodating room. This extraction frees up space in the passenger compartment while maintaining manual steering capability through the transmission mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The steering control function is moved from the horizontal plane of the passenger compartment to a different spatial location (accommodating room). The transmission mechanism bridges this spatial dimension change, allowing steering control to function across the partition boundary
3Volume of moving object
If the steering device is placed in a separate accommodating room, then space utilization is improved and autonomous driving is enabled, but the complexity of mechanical connection for manual intervention increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mechanism is designed to serve multiple functions: it transmits steering force during normal autonomous operation, enables manual steering intervention when needed, and provides a mechanical connection that works both ways. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for different operating modes
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous vehicle includes: a steering device configured to automatically control a steering angle of tires according to a traveling condition, the steering device being provided in an accommodating room that is separated from a passenger compartment by a partition member, and the steering device including a steered shaft, an actuator, and a gear mechanism; and a joint device provided in the accommodating room, the joint device being configured to mechanically connect an input shaft and a member including a rod-shaped body that is inserted from the passenger compartment into the accommodating room through an opening and closing portion formed in the partition member.