Foldable Pedal Apparatus with Rotating Pad for Vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous driving mode, exposed vehicle pedals can be inadvertently operated by drivers, leading to potential accidents, and there is a need for a solution that hides pedals from drivers to prevent erroneous operation while allowing exposure in manual driving mode for comfortable rest and safe operation.
Innovation Solution
A foldable pedal apparatus with rotatable pedal pads, link units, and actuators that hide pedals during autonomous driving and expose them during manual driving, using return springs and linear motors to manage the position of pedal pads, and integrated sensors to prevent erroneous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pedals are exposed in autonomous driving mode, then driver can operate them in manual mode, but driver may inadvertently operate them causing safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal apparatus transitions between two states: exposed position for manual driving mode and retracted position for autonomous driving mode. The pedal pad is rotatably coupled to the footrest panel, allowing it to dynamically change position based on driving mode, thereby preventing inadvertent operation while maintaining accessibility when needed
Solution Approach 2:
A sensor acts as an intermediary between the driving mode signal and the pedal apparatus. The sensor detects the driving mode (manual or autonomous) and triggers the appropriate pedal position, serving as a mediator that automatically adjusts the pedal exposure based on operational context
2Ease of operation
If pedals are hidden in autonomous driving mode, then driver comfort is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of retracting pedals horizontally into the footrest panel (which would require significant lateral space), the invention rotates the pedal pad vertically around a rotation axis. This dimensional change allows the pedal to be hidden in the vertical dimension while minimizing horizontal space requirements, preserving both driver comfort and vehicle interior space
3Ease of manufacture
If holes are formed in footrest panel for pedal installation, then pedal apparatus can be installed, but noise and foreign substances may enter vehicle interior
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal apparatus is nested within the footrest panel structure. The pedal pad, link units, and actuator are all contained within or integrated into the footrest panel, with components fitting into recesses or spaces within the panel itself. This nesting eliminates the need for through-holes that would connect to the engine compartment, preventing noise and foreign substance infiltration while maintaining installation feasibility
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
Ensures driver safety by preventing accidental pedal operation during autonomous driving and maximizing vehicle interior and engine compartment space by minimizing the need for holes in the footrest panel, while allowing easy operation in manual driving mode.
Implementation Method 1
a return spring configured to provide spring force to rotate the pedal pad rearwards
Implementation Method 2
actuators fixed to the footrest panel, operated to come into contact with the link units or to release contact with the link units, and configured to rotate the pedal pads towards the front surface of the footrest panel to allow the pedal pads to enter the hidden state
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable pedal apparatus for vehicles is provided in which pedal pads are rotated rearwards from a footrest panel and thus enter a pop-up state to be manipulable by a driver in a manual driving mode in which the driver directly drives a vehicle. The pedal pads are rotated forwards maximally close to the front surface of the footrest panel and thus enter a hidden state without exposure to be nonmanipulable by the driver in an autonomous driving situation.