Foldable Vehicle Pedal With Rotating Pad for Autonomous Mode Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous driving vehicles, exposed pedals interfere with driver comfort and safety, as they can be unintentionally manipulated, leading to potential accidents.
Innovation Solution
A foldable pedal apparatus with a pendant-type configuration, where a pedal pad rotates with respect to a pedal arm, popping up for manual driving mode and hiding to block exposure in autonomous driving mode, using a rotation motor and stopper protrusions to ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pedal pad is exposed toward the driver, then the driver can manipulate the pedal in manual driving mode, but the driver may unconsciously manipulate the pedal in autonomous driving mode causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal pad is designed to be movable rather than fixed, capable of rotating between a first position (exposed) for manual driving mode and a second position (retracted) for autonomous driving mode. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt its state based on driving mode, ensuring accessibility when needed and preventing unintended manipulation when not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The position parameter of the pedal pad is changed based on driving mode. In manual driving mode, the pedal pad is positioned to be accessible; in autonomous driving mode, the pedal pad is retracted to a position where it cannot be manipulated. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by making the pedal accessible only when required.
2Ease of operation
If the pedal pad is exposed toward the driver for manual driving mode, then the driver can access the pedal, but the pedal interferes with driver comfort in autonomous driving mode
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal pad transitions from a static exposed position to a dynamic system that can change its position. When the vehicle switches to autonomous driving mode, the pedal pad automatically retracts to a second position that does not interfere with the driver's comfort, while still maintaining the capability to return to the first position when manual driving mode is activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The pedal pad is retracted to the second position in advance before the driver needs to rest in autonomous driving mode, eliminating the interference issue. When manual driving mode is needed, the system prepares by returning the pedal pad to the accessible first position, ensuring readiness without compromising comfort during autonomous operation.
3Ease of operation
If the pedal pad rotates backward and downward to pop up for manual driving mode, then the driver can manipulate the pedal, but the length from hinge portion to end portion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal pad is designed to rotate dynamically between two positions: when rotating backward and downward to the first position, it extends to provide accessibility for manual driving mode; when rotating forward and upward to the second position, it retracts to minimize the length from the hinge portion to the end portion of the pedal arm, reducing overall size when accessibility is not required.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable pedal apparatus of a vehicle includes a pendant-type configuration provided with a pedal arm and a pedal pad. The pedal pad rotates with respect to the pedal arm when the rotation motor operates so that the pedal pad pops up to protrude toward a driver or hide to block the exposure to the driver.