Lane Holding Control with Driver Torque Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional Lane Keeping Aid (LKA) systems lack interaction with drivers in situations where they want to position their vehicle off-center within a lane, such as on wide roads, with longitudinal ruts, or during lane changes, leading to driver dissatisfaction as the LKA often needs to be turned off.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that combines traditional LKA information with driver input to allow mixed control of vehicle lane positioning, using on-board vision, lidar, radar, and GPS systems to identify vehicle position and calculate a target vehicle path, while also considering driver-applied torque to control the vehicle's lateral state, enabling continuous control of lane position within or outside the lane center.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional LKA system continuously guides the vehicle to the center of the lane, then the vehicle maintains proper lane positioning, but the driver cannot position the vehicle off-center when needed (e.g., wide lanes, longitudinal ruts, lane changes)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver's ability to position vehicleVSAvoidLKA control authority
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the level of LKA intervention based on detected driver intent. When driver torque indicates a desire to position the vehicle off-center, the system transitions from active lane-centering guidance to a mode that allows driver-initiated positioning, enabling flexible adaptation to different driving situations such as wide lanes, longitudinal ruts, or lane changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors driver torque on the steering wheel as feedback signal. This feedback mechanism allows the LKA system to detect when the driver intends to deviate from the centered lane position and accordingly adjusts its control behavior, permitting the driver to position the vehicle where desired while maintaining safety oversight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If LKA system requires driver to turn off the function for lane changes, then lane changes can be performed, but the driver experience is degraded and continuous control is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelane change capabilityVSAvoidcontinuous control during lane change
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of driver intent through steering torque analysis before a lane change is initiated. When the system detects that the driver intends to change lanes (through sustained torque application in the desired direction), it proactively adjusts its control mode to permit the lane change while maintaining continuous assistance, eliminating the need for the driver to manually disable the function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If LKA system provides continuous lane centering guidance, then the vehicle stays centered in the lane, but the driver cannot avoid longitudinal ruts or position the vehicle to one side when desired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle positioning flexibilityVSAvoidlane keeping performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts its lane-keeping behavior based on detected driver intent. When the driver applies torque to position the vehicle away from the center (to avoid longitudinal ruts or for other reasons), the system transitions from enforcing center positioning to allowing and supporting the driver's desired position, thereby providing adaptability to various road conditions and driver preferences while maintaining reliable lane keeping

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3684675B1Method and system for controlling vehicle lane holding
Publication Date: 2023.05.24 SENTIENT IP AB
  • EP3684675B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3684675B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3684675B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for controlling vehicle lane holding for a vehicle with an electric power assisted steering by means of a steering system (100) with a steering assistance actuator and one or more controllable vehicle state actuators comprising measurement of at least one vehicle position input signal with using an on-board vision system for determination of a relative vehicle lane position in the form of a lateral lane position, a heading angle and a lane curvature, transformation of the relative vehicle lane position to a target yaw and/or lateral vehicle state, measuring at least one steering input signal, determination from said one or more measured steering input signals a torque value applied by the driver via a steering wheel (120), transformation of said torque value to a relative to the afore-mentioned target yaw and/or lateral vehicle state a driver target relative yaw and/or lateral vehicle state, adding said target yaw and/or lateral vehicle state and said driver target relative yaw and/or lateral vehicle state together, and using the resulting yaw and/or lateral vehicle state as a reference signal to one or more controllers for the mentioned control of the one or more vehicle state actuators.