e-Corner Steering and Camera Control for Crab Mode Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle steering systems, including hydraulic power steering and four-wheel steering, fail to provide consistent steering assistance based on vehicle speed and road conditions, leading to increased driver fatigue and safety risks, especially in omnidirectional driving modes like crab mode.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for controlling an e-Corner vehicle with an e-Corner module that adjusts driving force direction, steering rod wheels, variable gear ratio (VGR), braking force, and camera image orientation based on driving modes to ensure consistent turning radius and safe driving environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hydraulic power steering apparatus is used to reduce operating force, then steering ease is improved, but engine output is reduced due to dependency on engine RPM
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic power steering system with an electric power steering system that uses an electric motor to provide steering assistance. This substitution eliminates the dependency on engine hydraulic pumps, allowing steering assistance to be provided independently of engine RPM, thus preserving engine output while maintaining steering ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric power steering system uses the vehicle's electrical system to power the steering motor, allowing the vehicle to self-regulate steering assistance based on actual steering needs rather than engine availability. The system can provide assistance when needed regardless of engine state, making the steering system self-sufficient.
2Stability of the object's composition
If four-wheel steering system is used to stabilize vehicle movement, then high-speed stability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic steering system where the rear wheels can independently adjust their steering angle based on vehicle speed and driving conditions. At high speeds, the rear wheels steer in-phase with front wheels for stability; at low speeds, they can steer in reverse phase for reduced turning radius. This dynamic adaptability provides stability when needed without requiring permanently complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The four-wheel steering system is designed to perform multiple functions: high-speed stability control, low-speed maneuverability enhancement, and panic avoidance steering. By integrating these functions into a single system that adapts to different driving conditions, the patent achieves versatile performance without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If crab mode is enabled for omnidirectional movement, then driving versatility is improved, but driver convenience deteriorates due to head turning requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the crab mode visibility issue by introducing a camera system that captures images from multiple directions (front, rear, left, right) and displays them on screens positioned in corresponding directions. This creates a virtual viewing dimension that eliminates the need for the driver to physically turn their head, maintaining convenience while enabling omnidirectional movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera and display system acts as an intermediary between the driver and the external environment during crab mode operation. Instead of directly observing the surroundings by turning their head, the driver interacts with the camera-captured images displayed on screens, which mediate the visual information transfer and eliminate the inconvenient head turning action.
4Reliability
If camera images are displayed according to traveling direction, then driving safety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric display configuration where camera images are selectively displayed on specific screens based on the vehicle's traveling direction. For example, during forward movement, the front camera image is displayed on the front screen; during reverse movement, the rear camera image is displayed on the front screen. This asymmetric, context-dependent display strategy enhances safety by providing relevant visual information without requiring a completely symmetric complex system for all directions.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein may be an apparatus and method for controlling an e-Corner vehicle. The apparatus may include: an input module configured to receive a driving mode; a camera module configured to capture images in front, rear, left, and right directions of the vehicle; an e-Corner configured to independently control driving, steering, and braking for each wheel of the vehicle; an output module configured to output the images captured by the camera module; and a processor operatively coupled to the input module, the camera module, the e-Corner module, and the output module. The processor may receive the driving mode, drive the e-Corner module by adjusting a driving direction, steering rod wheels, a variable gear ratio (VGR), and braking force, and output the images from the camera module to the output module according to a traveling direction.