Chassis Geometry Asymmetry Detection for Lane Change Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to accurately detect and compensate for chassis asymmetry in motor vehicles, leading to undesirable handling characteristics, impaired driver assistance system performance, and increased wear and tear.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the analysis of steering information and vehicle motion curves to detect chassis asymmetry by comparing steering torques for right and left turns, adjusting lane change times, and triggering actions based on distortion severity, including deactivating driver assistance systems when severe asymmetry is detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chassis geometry asymmetry is not detected and compensated, then vehicle handling characteristics deteriorate and driver assistance system performance is impaired, but implementing detection and compensation increases system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle handling reliabilityVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the vehicle's existing steering system components (steering angle sensor, steering torque sensor, motion sensor) to automatically detect and compensate for chassis asymmetry without requiring external diagnostic equipment. The control unit processes data from these existing sensors and automatically adjusts driver assistance system parameters, making the system self-diagnosing and self-correcting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors steering angle, steering torque, and vehicle motion data, compares actual vehicle behavior with expected behavior, and automatically adjusts driver assistance system parameters based on detected asymmetry. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable handling while using existing sensor infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If driver assistance systems are operated with undetected chassis asymmetry, then lane change execution time becomes inaccurate and abort rate increases, but detecting and compensating for asymmetry requires additional processing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelane change execution accuracyVSAvoiddetection processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs asymmetry detection and compensation parameter calculation in advance during normal steering operations, before lane change maneuvers are executed. By continuously monitoring steering data and pre-calculating compensation parameters, the system prepares correction values that can be immediately applied during lane changes, minimizing execution delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts driver assistance system parameters (such as lane change execution time and torque application profiles) based on detected asymmetry characteristics. By changing operational parameters rather than adding physical compensation mechanisms, the system maintains high lane change accuracy without significant processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If steering torque limits are not adjusted for vibrations, then hand detection accuracy decreases and false hands-off warnings increase, but adjusting limits increases complexity of the detection system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehand detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses vibrations detected by the existing motion sensor to automatically adjust steering torque thresholds for hand detection. The control unit analyzes vibration characteristics from the motion sensor data and dynamically modifies the torque limits used in hand detection algorithms, eliminating the need for separate vibration measurement hardware while improving detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The motion sensor serves multiple functions: detecting vehicle motion for asymmetry detection, measuring vibrations for torque limit adjustment, and providing data for both chassis diagnostics and driver monitoring. This multi-functional use of existing sensors improves hand detection accuracy without adding dedicated vibration measurement complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4303099B1Method for detecting asymmetry of a chassis geometry of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4303099B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The invention relates to two methods for detecting an asymmetry in the chassis geometry of a motor vehicle and a method for operating a motor vehicle. In the first method for detecting the asymmetry of the chassis geometry, steering information, which characterizes the steering of the motor vehicle, is analyzed together with a determined motion curve of the motor vehicle with regard to any distortion of the motor vehicle (V11). Upon detection of distortion, the asymmetry of the chassis geometry is determined, and an action of the motor vehicle is triggered, wherein the action is selected depending on a determined degree of distortion (V12).