Vehicle Door Obstruction Detection Using Variable Force Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle doors, especially those on larger vehicles like SUVs, are prone to damage from undetected obstructions due to their large opening angles, leading to potential contact and damage while opening or closing.
Innovation Solution
An obstruction detection device is implemented, comprising sensors and actuators connected to a controller that monitor the presence and proximity of objects relative to the door assembly, applying a variable force to restrict or stop the door's rotation, preventing contact with obstructions while maximizing the opening for ingress and egress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door assembly is designed with a large opening angle to maximize ingress and egress, then vehicle accessibility is improved, but the risk of contact with undetected obstructions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system performs preliminary detection of obstructions in the door's path before the door reaches them. The controller receives sensor signals indicating obstruction presence and preemptively adjusts the actuator to restrict or stop door rotation, preventing contact before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the door assembly's position and surrounding environment using sensors that transmit real-time signals to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts the actuator's restrictive force to maintain safe operation while maximizing opening angle.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the actuator applies strong restrictive force to prevent contact with obstructions, then door protection is improved, but the maximum opening angle for ingress and egress is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator's restrictive force is dynamically adjusted based on real-time sensor feedback rather than being fixed. The controller modulates the actuator's force application to apply maximum restriction only when obstructions are detected, and minimum or no restriction when the path is clear, thereby maintaining large opening angles when safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the door assembly based on environmental conditions. When sensors detect no obstructions, the door can achieve its full design opening angle. When obstructions are detected at specific positions, the controller adjusts the door's maximum rotation parameter to stop before contact, optimizing both protection and accessibility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sensors and actuators are added to detect and prevent obstruction contact, then door protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor and actuator components serve multiple functions: sensors detect both obstructions and door position, while the actuator provides both normal door operation assistance and obstruction prevention. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An obstruction detection device for a motor vehicle having a door assembly movably connected to a vehicle body is provided. The device controls the vehicle door's opening angle to prevent inadvertent contact with an object foreign to the vehicle, while providing the largest opening for vehicle ingress and egress. The obstruction detection device includes a controller that is operatively connected to at least one sensor configured to actively monitor and transmit signals to the controller indicative of the presence and corresponding proximity of the object relative to the door assembly. An actuator is operatively connected to and controlled by the controller. The actuator is configured to apply a selectively variable force that restricts the movement of the vehicle door assembly with respect to the vehicle body when the door is a predetermined distance from the object.