Vehicle Curve-Speed Control with Hands-On-Wheel Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle control systems, particularly in semi-autonomous driving, face challenges in ensuring safety due to errors in acquiring vehicle surrounding information, leading to potential accidents during steering and velocity control, especially in varying road conditions and lack of driver attention.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control arrangement that includes a velocity control system, remote sensors, a steering control unit, an upcoming road geometry detecting unit, and a hands-on-wheel detecting unit, which reduces vehicle velocity when an upcoming curve is detected and no hand is on the steering wheel, thereby minimizing the risk of accidents and encouraging driver engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic steering control is implemented without driver attention monitoring, then automation level increases, but safety decreases due to potential faulty steering interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors driver attention state and steering state through sensors, providing real-time feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect when the driver is inattentive or when steering corrections are needed, enabling timely intervention to prevent safety issues while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively providing warnings to the driver before critical situations occur. When inattention or faulty steering is detected, the system issues warnings and prepares for potential driver intervention, preventing accidents before they happen rather than reacting after failure occurs.
2Reliability
If driver attention is enforced through continuous monitoring, then safety improves, but driver autonomy and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial monitoring and intervention - it continuously monitors driver state but only intervenes when necessary (when inattention or steering errors are detected). This partial action approach maintains safety without requiring constant driver engagement or system intervention, preserving driver autonomy while ensuring safety when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the driver to self-correct by providing warnings and allowing the driver to retake control when needed. Rather than forcing continuous driver attention or automatic intervention, the system empowers the driver to maintain awareness and take appropriate action, combining safety monitoring with driver autonomy.
3Reliability
If velocity is reduced in curve sections without driver input, then safety improves, but productivity and ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects upcoming curve sections in advance using road geometry data and provides preliminary velocity adjustments before the vehicle enters the curve. This preliminary action allows safe curve navigation while minimizing disruption to overall travel efficiency, as the velocity change is proactive rather than reactive.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts velocity based on real-time conditions - reducing speed only when necessary for upcoming curves and only when the driver is not already preparing for the curve. The velocity control is flexible and adaptive, optimizing both safety and travel efficiency by making adjustments only when beneficial.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle control arrangement (1) is provided configured to control steering and velocity of a road vehicle (3) comprising a velocity control arrangement (5), remote sensors (7) arranged to acquire vehicle surrounding information, a steering control unit (9) arranged to control steering of the road vehicle (3) based on the vehicle surrounding information, an upcoming road geometry detecting unit (13) arranged to detect presence of an upcoming curve section (15), a hands-on-wheel detecting unit (19) configured to detect if presence exists of at least one hand (21) on a steering wheel (23) of the road vehicle (3). The velocity control arrangement (5) is configured to perform a reduction of velocity of the road vehicle (3) in case presence of an upcoming curve section (15) is detected and no presence is detected of at least one hand (21) on the steering wheel (23). The present disclosure also relates to a road vehicle (3) and a method (100) of controlling a road vehicle (3).