Brake-to-Steer Predictive Control for Steering Failure Backup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Highly automated vehicles face a risk of loss of directional control due to single point failures in steering systems, necessitating a redundant system that allows safe operation until a journey can be safely concluded.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a brake-to-steer model predictive control system that uses vehicle speed and other data to calculate brake pressure commands, enabling the vehicle to maintain lateral control even when a steering system component fails.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a redundant steering controller is implemented, then the reliability of directional control is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirectional control reliabilityVSAvoidsteering system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brake system is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both its traditional stopping function and a lateral control function. The model predictive control system calculates brake pressure commands for lateral control, allowing the brake system to serve as a backup steering mechanism when the primary steering system fails, thus improving reliability without adding dedicated redundant steering hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical steering system with a brake-based lateral control system. Instead of using mechanical steering components to provide redundancy, the invention uses the brake system with model predictive control algorithms to generate lateral control forces, substituting a different mechanical subsystem to achieve the same functional redundancy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Duration of action of moving object

If the vehicle operates in reduced functionality mode after steering failure, then the duration of safe operation is extended, but the productivity decreases due to limited lateral control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduration of safe operationVSAvoidjourney completion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The brake pressure commands are dynamically adjusted based on real-time vehicle state data including side slip angle, steering angle, curvature of trajectory, cross track error, and heading. The model predictive control continuously optimizes the brake pressures to maintain accurate lateral control throughout the journey, adapting to changing driving conditions rather than using fixed control parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements closed-loop feedback control by continuously monitoring vehicle state parameters (side slip angle, steering angle, curvature of trajectory, cross track error, heading) and using this feedback to adjust the brake pressure commands. This ensures that the lateral control remains accurate and adaptive throughout the extended operation period, maintaining productivity despite the reduced functionality mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12576907B2Model predictive brake-to-steer control for automated vehicles

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is a method using a brake-to-steer model predictive control to providing a limited level of lateral control for self-driving or semi-self-driving vehicles, when a component of a vehicle steering system fails or is failing.