Dual-Actuator Steering Assembly with Enhanced Backup Capability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steering assemblies for vehicles lack sufficient flexibility and reliability, particularly in heavy-duty vehicles, where ensuring safe and effective steering is crucial while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A dual-actuator steering assembly with a first nominal steering capability and a second enhanced steering capability, where the second actuator can take over with increased capabilities upon detection of a malfunction in the first actuator, allowing for temporary high-stress steering operations to maintain vehicle control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dual-actuator steering system is implemented with the second actuator having enhanced capability, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering system is divided into two independent actuators (first steering actuator and second steering actuator), each capable of independently controlling the steering angle. This segmentation allows the system to maintain functionality even if one actuator fails, thereby improving reliability without requiring a completely redundant dual-system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between nominal and enhanced steering capabilities based on operational conditions. The motion control system adapts the steering angle limits and actuator capabilities in real-time, allowing the second actuator to operate at enhanced capability when needed while maintaining normal operation under standard conditions, thus managing complexity through dynamic configuration rather than fixed over-design.
2Ease of manufacture
If actuators are designed for long-term operation within nominal capabilities, then cost is reduced, but reliability during malfunction decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes operational parameters (steering angle limits, actuator capability levels) based on the health status of the actuators. When the first actuator malfunctions, the motion control system adjusts the steering angle limits and switches to enhanced capability mode for the second actuator, allowing cost-effective actuators to provide reliable backup functionality by operating within modified parameter ranges rather than requiring expensive redundant actuators.
3Reliability
If the second actuator operates with enhanced steering capability during malfunction, then reliability is improved, but the actuator duration of action is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of actuator health status and proactively switches to enhanced capability mode before complete failure occurs. The motion control system continuously monitors actuator performance and preemptively adjusts operational parameters when degradation is detected, ensuring continuous reliable steering while managing the limited duration of enhanced capability operation through planned transitions back to nominal mode or system shutdown.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering assembly for a vehicle comprises first and second steering actuators, each configured to be actuated in accordance with at least one signal issued from a motion control system to control a steering angle of at least one steerable ground engaging member of the vehicle. The first and second steering actuators are associated with corresponding first and second nominal steering capabilities, each defining at least one limitation of at least one of the following: steering angle, steering angle rate and steering torque, for the at least one steerable ground engaging member. The motion control system is adapted to, upon detection of a malfunction associated with the first steering actuator, associate the second steering actuator with a second enhanced steering capability instead of the second nominal steering capability. The second enhanced steering capability is different from the second nominal steering capability.