Robot Hand Sensor Mapping for Steering Wheel Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for checking the return function of a vehicle from autonomous driving to driver-controlled driving, particularly involving the steering wheel, lack precision and reproducibility in determining hand presence and gestures, and fail to effectively test the functionality of infotainment systems and virtual controls.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a handling device with integrated sensors (distance, pressure, temperature, humidity, inertial, ultrasonic, and optical sensors) to scan and determine the envelope of the steering wheel or control device, allowing for precise detection of hand presence and gestures, and enabling the testing of infotainment systems and virtual controls through contactless interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If capacitive sensors are used to detect hand presence on the steering wheel, then hand detection capability is improved, but measurement precision and reproducibility deteriorate due to inability to precisely determine safe operating function envelope
Solution Approach 1:
A robot hand equipped with multiple sensors (distance sensors, force sensors, capacitive sensors) serves as an intermediary testing device. This robot hand systematically approaches the steering wheel to map the envelope where capacitive sensors detect hand presence, enabling precise and reproducible determination of the safe operating function envelope without relying solely on human operator variability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces human operators with a robot hand system for envelope determination. The robot hand uses distance sensors to control approach motion and force sensors to detect contact, substituting the variable human sensing capability with a controlled, measurable, and reproducible mechanical testing system that can precisely map the detection envelope.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated in the hand to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot hand is designed as a multi-functional testing device that integrates distance sensors for envelope mapping, force sensors for contact detection, and capacitive sensors for hand presence verification. This single universal testing device can perform multiple measurement functions (envelope determination, force threshold measurement, capacitive sensor activation testing) that would otherwise require separate specialized devices, thereby managing complexity through consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (distance sensors, force sensors, capacitive sensors) into a single integrated robot hand assembly. By merging these sensing capabilities into one cohesive testing device rather than using separate devices for each measurement type, the system achieves high measurement precision while managing complexity through integrated design.
3Reliability
If the envelope of the steering wheel is precisely determined to ensure safe operation, then reliability is improved, but the complexity of the checking process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot hand systematically maps the steering wheel envelope and determines detection thresholds before actual safety testing. This preliminary characterization phase establishes the safe operating function envelope and capacitive sensor activation parameters in advance, creating a reference framework that simplifies subsequent reliability verification by comparing actual operations against pre-determined safe parameters.
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
Enables precise and reproducible checks of hand presence and gestures, ensuring safe transition from autonomous to driver-controlled driving, and effectively tests the functionality of vehicle controls and infotainment systems, providing reliable haptic feedback and accurate measurement of complex operating sequences.
Implementation Method 1
The distance between the hand and the control device is determined by a first group of sensors integrated in the hand, in particular distance sensors
Implementation Method 2
optical sensor are integrated in the hand
Implementation Method 3
pressure sensor
Implementation Method 4
ultrasonic sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for checking a function of a vehicle having a control device (200) by means of a hand (16) of a handling device, wherein the hand used is one having five movable fingers (20, 22, 24, 26, 28), palm (18) and back of hand (104) and in which several sensors (60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 93, 94, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114) are integrated at least from the group consisting of distance sensor, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, inertial sensor, ultrasonic sensor, optical sensor.