Emergency Steering System for Eco-Roll Kickback Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
During eco-roll operation, vehicles experience a heavy steering wheel feeling and kickback phenomenon due to reduced engine RPM and power steering pump output, making steering more difficult for drivers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an emergency steering system that assists steering power when the vehicle is in a neutral gear state, using a controller to detect eco-roll conditions and activate the system to provide additional steering support, thereby reducing the effort required for steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine RPM is lowered to idle state during eco-roll mode, then fuel ratio is improved, but steering power assistance is reduced causing heavy steering wheel feeling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an emergency steering system as an intermediary mechanism to provide hydraulic pressure assistance during eco-roll mode. When the power steering pump output is insufficient due to idle engine RPM, the emergency steering system activates to supplement the steering power assistance, ensuring the driver can still manipulate the steering wheel easily while maintaining fuel efficiency benefits of eco-roll mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational parameters of the steering assistance system by switching from normal power steering pump operation to emergency steering system operation based on detected eco-roll conditions. The control unit monitors engine RPM and steering torque, and when eco-roll mode is detected, it activates the emergency steering system to provide appropriate hydraulic pressure for steering assistance at idle RPM conditions.
2Loss of energy
If the power steering pump output is lowered due to reduced engine RPM, then fuel efficiency is improved, but steering stability is reduced causing kickback phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency steering system provides beforehand cushioning by pre-loading the steering system with hydraulic pressure from the emergency pump before kickback occurs. When eco-roll mode is detected, the system activates the emergency steering apparatus to maintain sufficient hydraulic pressure in the steering circuit, cushioning against the kickback phenomenon that would otherwise occur due to insufficient power steering pump output at idle RPM.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors steering torque and engine RPM to detect eco-roll operation conditions. When the vehicle operates in eco-roll mode and steering input is detected, the system activates the emergency steering system to compensate for the reduced power steering pump output, providing feedback-based control to maintain steering stability and prevent kickback phenomenon during idle operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a system and method for improving a steering feeling of a driver while preventing a heavy feeling of a steering wheel or a kickback phenomenon during an eco-roll operation for improving a fuel ratio of the vehicle. The method includes determining, by a controller, an eco-roll operation condition in which a brake is disengaged, an accelerator pedal is disengaged, and a speed of the vehicle is a reference speed or higher. Furthermore, when the eco-roll operation condition is determined, the controller coverts a gear state of a transmission into a neutral gear state. The controller also controls an engine RPM to an idle RPM to start the eco-roll mode and an operation of an emergency steering system to assist steering power according to a steering input due to a driver manipulation of a steering wheel while the traveling in a neutral gear state of an eco-roll mode.