Evasive Steering Assist Torque Adaptation for Driver Inputs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional evasive steering assist (ESA) systems irregularly operate when drivers provide additional steering inputs, often leading to unsafe cancellation of ESA interventions.

Innovation Solution

A system and method to determine a score based on manual steering inputs, adjusting ESA steering inputs to maintain, modify, or cancel them accordingly, using a score calculated from the additional steering angle and torque to adapt to driver intentions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ESA systems are activated to provide automatic steering input to avoid collisions, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but driver control and safety are worsened when drivers provide additional manual steering inputs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidance capabilityVSAvoiddriver control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ESA system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time detection of manual steering inputs. When driver torque exceeds a threshold, the system transitions from full automated control to a modified state where ESA provides assistive torque rather than dominant control, allowing smooth adaptation between automated and manual control modes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors driver steering torque and uses this feedback to modulate ESA steering torque. The modified ESA torque is calculated as a function of the detected manual steering input, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to driver intentions while maintaining collision avoidance capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If ESA systems cancel intervention when drivers provide additional steering inputs, then driver control is improved, but collision avoidance safety is worsened due to irregular operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver controlVSAvoidcollision avoidance safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allowing ESA to cancel entirely when driver input is detected, the system preemptively modifies the ESA torque to prevent harmful cancellation. By calculating modified steering torque that accounts for driver input magnitude, the system ensures continuous protective action without irregular interruption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the torque parameter of ESA based on detected driver input. Rather than binary on/off control, the ESA torque is continuously adjusted according to driver steering torque, creating a smooth transition that maintains safety while respecting driver control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4201789B1Evasive steering assist modification based on manual steering inputs
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 APTIV TECHNOLOGIES AG
  • EP4201789B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4201789B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4201789B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The techniques and systems herein enable ESA modification based on manual steering inputs. Specifically, a score is determined for a manual steering input to a host vehicle while an ESA is actively applying an ESA steering input to the host vehicle. The score quantifies an amount of additional steering input relative to the ESA steering input (e.g. additional steering angle, steering wheel torque). The ESA steering input is maintained, modified, or canceled based on the score. By doing so, the system is able to effectively adapt the ESA to the manual steering inputs thereby allowing for effective collision mitigation while ensuring that the vehicles operate as intended by the drivers.