Intersection Steering Angle Control for Smooth Turn Restarts

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems do not optimize the steering wheel angle during temporary stops at intersections, leading to inconvenience in completing turns after restarting.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device that autonomously recognizes intersection environment information to set the steering wheel angle based on intersection size, orienting it towards the travel direction for larger intersections and aligning it with the vehicle body for smaller intersections, ensuring smooth restart after temporary stops.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the steering wheel angle is not optimized during temporary stops at intersections, then the vehicle control system operates with simple control logic, but the driver experiences inconvenience when completing turns after restarting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of completing turns after restartVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary action by setting the steering wheel angle to the appropriate value before the vehicle restarts after a temporary stop. Based on the intersection size recognition, the system pre-adjusts the steering wheel to either the travel direction angle (for large intersections) or the vehicle body alignment angle (for small intersections), so that the driver does not need to manually adjust the steering when resuming the turn.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device implements self-service by autonomously determining and adjusting the steering wheel angle without driver intervention. The system uses environment information to automatically select the appropriate steering angle and executes the adjustment, making the vehicle control system serve itself in optimizing the turning process after restart.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Speed

If the steering wheel angle is set toward travel direction for all intersections, then the vehicle can quickly resume turning after restart, but the steering wheel may obstruct the driver's view or cause wear in small intersections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of resuming turn after restartVSAvoidsteering wheel obstruction and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device applies local quality by differentiating the steering wheel angle setting based on intersection size. For large intersections (area ≥ threshold), the steering wheel is oriented toward the travel direction to enable quick turn resumption. For small intersections (area < threshold), the steering wheel is aligned with the vehicle body to avoid obstruction and reduce wear. This localized adaptation optimizes performance for each specific condition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The control device implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the steering wheel angle parameter based on the recognized intersection size. The system changes the target steering angle from one value (travel direction angle) to another value (vehicle body alignment angle) depending on the intersection characteristics, thereby optimizing both speed and safety for different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the steering wheel angle is aligned with vehicle body for all intersections, then the steering wheel does not obstruct view or cause wear, but the vehicle cannot smoothly complete turns after restarting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering wheel obstruction and wearVSAvoidefficiency of completing turn after restart

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device applies local quality by differentiating the steering wheel angle setting based on intersection size. For large intersections (area ≥ threshold), the steering wheel is oriented toward the travel direction to enable quick turn resumption. For small intersections (area < threshold), the steering wheel is aligned with the vehicle body to avoid obstruction and reduce wear. This localized adaptation optimizes performance for each specific condition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The control device implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the steering wheel angle parameter based on the recognized intersection size. The system changes the target steering angle from one value (travel direction angle) to another value (vehicle body alignment angle) depending on the intersection characteristics, thereby optimizing both speed and safety for different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250360946A1Automated driving control device, storage medium storing automated driving control program, and automated driving control method

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A vehicle control device that autonomously controls driving of a subject vehicle is configured to recognize environment information at an intersection, and set an angle of a steering wheel of the subject vehicle in a case where the subject vehicle temporarily stops. The environment information includes a size of the intersection. The vehicle control device sets the angle of the steering wheel such that, when the size of the intersection is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value, the steering wheel is oriented toward the traveling direction after the right or left turn, relative to the orientation of the vehicle body of the subject vehicle. The vehicle control device sets the angle of the steering wheel such that, when the size of the intersection is smaller than the preset threshold value, the steering wheel is oriented in alignment with the orientation of the vehicle body.