Dual-Shaft Operation Lever Layout for Accessible Driving Assistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driving assistance devices for physically handicapped individuals interfere with side walk-through and require a long reach, making it difficult to maintain a stable driving posture and optimize operation adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance device with a novel configuration that includes a first and second member rotatably supported by respective shafts, an operation lever supported by both shafts, and a transfer member that drives a generator for braking or drive force, allowing for optimized operation range and fine adjustments without interfering with side walk-through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operation lever is supported on the floor between driver seat and front passenger seat, then the operation lever can be provided with a support point, but it interferes with side walk-through movement
Solution Approach 1:
The operation lever is repositioned from a floor-mounted configuration to a dashboard-mounted configuration, changing the spatial dimension and location where the lever is supported. This moves the lever from the lateral space between seats to the vertical space above the dashboard, eliminating interference with side walk-through while maintaining operational accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the support point of the operation lever is provided on the floor, then the lever can be supported, but the distance to the operation lever becomes long requiring arm stretching
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is extracted from the floor and transferred to the dashboard. By removing the floor as the support structure and replacing it with dashboard mounting, the lever is brought closer to the driver's natural reach zone, eliminating the need for arm stretching while maintaining stable support.
3Length of moving object
If the operation range is narrowed to decrease pushing amount, then the lever operation becomes more compact, but acceleration and deceleration control becomes too sensitive making fine adjustment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed with an extended length parameter, creating a longer operational arm that provides both sufficient operation range and adequate mechanical advantage. This parameter change allows the lever to achieve compact operation while maintaining smooth, controllable acceleration and deceleration responses through optimized leverage ratios.
Data Source
AI summary
A driving assistance device includes: a first member rotatably supported by a first member rotational shaft; a second member rotatably supported by a second member rotational shaft; an operation lever rotatably supported by both a first lever rotational shaft and a second lever rotational shaft, the first lever rotational shaft being provided at the first member, the second lever rotational shaft being provided at the second member and disposed toward a front side relative to the first lever rotational shaft, the operation lever including an extension part extending from the first lever rotational shaft toward a rear side; and a transfer member driving a generator that generates at least one of braking force or drive force for the vehicle in accordance with an operation of the operation lever.