Foldable Brake Pedal Apparatus for Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous driving vehicles, the exposed brake and accelerator pedals pose a risk of accidental operation by the driver, potentially leading to accidents, and there is a need for a solution that allows comfortable rest during autonomous driving while ensuring safety.
Innovation Solution
A foldable brake pedal apparatus with a high-load spring module and actuator system, using pivoted levers and sensors, which can be hidden during autonomous driving to prevent accidental operation and exposed for manual driving, incorporating a low-capacity motor for cost reduction and efficient layout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the brake pedal is exposed to allow manual operation, then the driver can operate the pedal in manual driving mode, but the driver may accidentally operate the pedal in autonomous driving mode causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The brake pedal is designed to dynamically change its state between exposed and retracted positions based on the driving mode. The pedal moves from a static exposed state to a dynamic configuration where it can be either exposed for manual operation or retracted into the housing to prevent accidental operation during autonomous driving, resolving the contradiction between operability and safety risk
Solution Approach 2:
A control system acts as an intermediary between the autonomous driving mode detection and the pedal position control. The controller receives signals about the driving mode and automatically adjusts the pedal position accordingly, mediating between the driver's intent (or lack thereof) and the physical pedal state to prevent accidental operation while maintaining ease of operation when needed
2Ease of operation
If the brake pedal remains exposed in autonomous driving mode, then the driver can quickly respond to emergencies, but the driver's comfort and rest are interfered with by the exposed pedal
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal system transitions from a static exposed state to a dynamic state where it retracts into the housing during autonomous driving, creating a clean space below the driver's seat that eliminates visual and physical interference, thereby improving driver comfort and rest while maintaining the ability to quickly deploy the pedal if needed
3Power
If a high-load spring module is used to implement stepping pressure, then the motor capacity can be reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a high-capacity motor that would directly provide stepping pressure with a mechanical advantage system using a high-load spring module and lever mechanism. This substitution allows a lower-capacity motor to achieve the same force output by leveraging mechanical multiplication, reducing motor size and cost while accepting increased mechanical complexity
4Volume of moving object
If two pivoted levers are used to connect the spring module and actuator, then the layout efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two pivoted levers arrange the spring module and actuator connections in a compact spatial configuration that efficiently utilizes available space. By using a multi-linkage lever system rather than a direct connection, the patent achieves better packaging and layout efficiency, reducing the overall footprint of the pedal assembly while accepting the added mechanical complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus ensures driver safety by preventing pedal mal-operation during autonomous driving and allows comfortable rest, while maintaining the ability for manual operation, with a reduced overall size and cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
a high-load spring module disposed in the pedal housing and implementing a stepping pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable brake pedal apparatus for an autonomous driving vehicle enables a pedal pad to protrude from a pedal housing in a popped-up state to make it possible for the driver to operate the pedal pad in a manual driving mode in which the driver manually drives the vehicle. In particular, the pedal pad is inserted into the pedal housing and blocked from being exposed to the driver in a hidden state so as to make it impossible for the driver to operate the pedal pad in an autonomous driving mode in which the driver does not manually drive the vehicle.