Brake-by-Wire System Haptic Feedback for Driver Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake-by-wire systems fail to provide feedback to the user about braking correction interventions, leading to unawareness of vehicle instability, which can result in dangerous loss of control during critical driving conditions.
Innovation Solution
A braking system with a processing and control unit that induces vibrations on the manual actuation means, such as a pedal or lever, to inform the driver of braking corrections, using a pilot pump, sorbing device, and shut-off valves, along with motor means to actuate braking devices, ensuring the user feels dynamic instability through tactile feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If brake-by-wire systems use electric actuation means to decouple user input from braking devices, then system safety and control precision are improved, but the user loses tactile feedback about actual braking device actuation and vehicle instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback mechanism that generates artificial tactile sensations (vibrations, pulsations, or resistance variations) in the manual actuation device when braking corrections are detected. The control unit monitors braking device actuation and, upon detecting corrections (e.g., anti-lock braking or stability control interventions), triggers haptic feedback through the hydraulic simulator to inform the user of system interventions and vehicle instability conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a hydraulic simulator (master cylinder with sorbing device) as an intermediary between the user's manual actuation and the electric braking system. This intermediary provides a mechanical-hydraulic interface that can generate tactile feedback while the electric actuation means independently control the actual braking devices, thus bridging the information gap between user input and system response.
2Reliability
If the system provides direct hydraulic connection between master cylinder and braking devices for backup safety, then reliability in case of power failure is improved, but the system cannot provide tactile feedback about dynamic instability during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic system that can switch between different operational modes: in normal operation, the hydraulic simulator is connected to the manual actuation device to provide tactile feedback, while in backup mode (power failure), the system switches to direct hydraulic connection. The control unit dynamically manages valve actuation to transition between these modes, ensuring both safety and user awareness according to operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic simulator serves multiple functions: it acts as a feedback generator during normal electric operation and as a direct actuation pathway during power failure. The same hydraulic components (master cylinder, valves, conduits) fulfill both the information feedback role and the safety backup role, eliminating the need for separate systems.
3Device complexity
If known braking systems avoid feedback to pedal about correction interventions, then system complexity is reduced, but user safety is compromised due to unawareness of braking corrections and vehicle instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback loop where the control unit monitors braking device actuation and generates haptic feedback through the hydraulic simulator when corrections are detected. This feedback informs the user of anti-lock braking interventions, stability control actions, or other system corrections, enabling the driver to adjust driving behavior to prevent dangerous conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses mechanical vibrations or pulsations generated by the hydraulic simulator as the feedback mechanism. When braking corrections occur, the control unit actuates valves to create pressure variations in the hydraulic fluid, which manifest as tactile vibrations or pulsations in the brake pedal, providing intuitive physical feedback to the user about system interventions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively warns the driver of vehicle instability by providing tactile feedback during braking corrections, enhancing safety by allowing the driver to adjust their driving style accordingly, similar to conventional hydraulic systems with ABS and DSC, while maintaining low cost and minimal weight addition.
Implementation Method 1
a sorbing device that returns a response to the user equivalent to that normally generated by a braking device in a conventional braking system
Implementation Method 2
said processing and control unit being programmed to induce on the manual actuation means at least a vibration when it corrects the braking action requested by the user
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A braking system for vehicles (4) comprising - a pilot pump (8) equipped with a manual actuation means (12), a lever and/or pedal, which is fluidically connected, through a first hydraulic conduit (16), to a sorbing device (20) that simulates the actuation resistance offered by a hydraulically operated braking device (24), wherein along said first hydraulic conduit (16) is arranged a first shut-off valve (28), - a second hydraulic conduit (32) operatively connected to at least one braking device (24) associated with a wheel of said vehicle, said second hydraulic conduit (32) being connected to the first hydraulic conduit (16) through a second shut-off valve (36), - the system (4) comprising a processing and control unit (40) operatively connected to the pilot pump (8) and motor means (44) for actuating said at least one braking device (24), the processing and control unit (40) being programmed so as to actuate the braking device (24) via the motor means (44) as a function of the actuation of the pilot pump (8) through the manual actuation means (12), in a "by-wire" operating condition, - in said "by-wire" operating condition, the first shut-off valve (28) being selectively opened and the second shut-off valve (36) being closed. Advantageously, the processing and control unit (40) is programmed to oversee the operation of the braking system (4) so as to correct the braking action requested by the user via the manual actuation means (12), by actuating the motors means (44) so as to avoid the locking of one or more wheels or the onset of instability of the vehicle during braking, said processing and control unit (40) being programmed to induce on the manual actuation means (12) at least a vibration when it corrects the braking action requested by the user.