Auxiliary Vehicle Steering Using Wheel Torque Backup Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic steering systems face issues with precision and reliability in lateral control during unexpected operating conditions, leading to potential loss of steerability and system changes that compromise vehicle control.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary steering system utilizing additional sensors to directly measure road wheel angles, independent of the conventional system, and activate drive units or deceleration devices for wheel-specific torques to maintain precise lateral control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If electronic steering systems are used for lateral control, then steering automation is improved, but reliability deteriorates during unexpected operating conditions leading to potential loss of steerability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a backup steering system that is pre-configured and ready to activate when the primary electronic steering system encounters unexpected operating conditions. This backup system uses alternative sensors and control mechanisms to maintain steering functionality, thereby cushioning against the reliability failure before it completely loses steerability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary backup steering system that mediates between the primary electronic steering system and the vehicle's lateral control requirements. When the primary system fails, this intermediary system takes over using different sensing and actuation methods, ensuring continuous steering functionality without direct exposure to the primary system's failure modes.
2Device complexity
If conventional electronic steering systems are used, then system complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates during limited operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the steering system into primary and backup subsystems with distinct measurement and control functions. The backup system uses independent sensors and measurement methods that remain functional when the primary system encounters limited operating conditions, thereby maintaining measurement precision without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If auxiliary steering with additional sensors is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a backup sensing system that copies the measurement functionality of the primary electronic steering system using alternative sensors. This copying approach provides redundant measurement precision without requiring complete duplication of the entire steering system, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy during limited operating conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed examples include detecting a limited operating condition in an electronic steering system of a vehicle, the vehicle including front axle steering and rear axle steering; determining which of the front axle steering or the rear axle steering is associated with the limited operating condition; activating an auxiliary steering system based on at least one of drive units or deceleration devices corresponding to the one of the front axle steering or the rear axle steering associated with the limited operating condition to implement lateral control of the vehicle based on torque control via different wheel-specific torques of the at least one of the drive units or the deceleration devices; measuring a steering angle of a road wheel via a sensor of the auxiliary steering system; and providing the measured steering angle to a control device of the auxiliary steering system.