Steer-by-Wire Conjunction Reaction Force Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In steer-by-wire vehicles, the driver may experience a feeling of strangeness due to unintended vehicle behavior during driving assist control, as the steering wheel does not reflect the intended vehicle turning direction.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control system that applies a steering reaction force component to the steering wheel in conjunction with vehicle turning, using feedforward reaction force control to move the steering wheel in the same direction as the driving assist control without relying on the steering angle, thereby enhancing driver awareness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If driving assist control automatically turns the vehicle independently of driver steering operation, then automation of vehicle turning is improved, but driver awareness of vehicle turning direction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of vehicle turningVSAvoiddriver awareness of turning direction
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by detecting the steering wheel operation amount and using it as a basis for generating the steering reaction force. When the driver operates the steering wheel, the system detects this operation and applies an appropriate reaction force to provide tactile feedback, maintaining the driver's awareness of steering actions even during automated driving assist control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The steering reaction force acts as an intermediary between the automated driving assist control system and the driver. Instead of directly connecting the automated turning command to the driver, the system uses the reaction force mechanism to mediate this interaction, providing tactile information about the vehicle's turning state to the driver through the steering wheel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If steering reaction force is calculated based on feedback axial force from turning actuator, then accuracy of road surface reaction force representation is improved, but responsiveness to driving assist control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of road surface reaction forceVSAvoidresponsiveness to driving assist control
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by calculating the feedforward axial force in advance based on the detected steering wheel operation amount, before the actual turning occurs. This pre-calculated force component is then combined with the feedback axial force, ensuring that the steering reaction force responds quickly to driving assist control while maintaining accuracy through the feedback component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges two different axial force components - the feedforward axial force (calculated in advance based on steering operation) and the feedback axial force (measured from the turning actuator). By combining these two components, the system achieves both responsiveness (from feedforward) and measurement precision (from feedback) in the steering reaction force calculation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4112422B1Vehicle control system and vehicle control method
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4112422B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4112422B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4112422B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle control system (10) controls a vehicle (1) of a steer-by-wire type. The vehicle control system (10) is configured to execute: driving assist control that assists driving of the vehicle (1); and conjunction reaction force control that applies a steering reaction force component to a steering wheel (3) in conjunction with turning of the vehicle (1) caused by the driving assist control. A driving assist direction (Da) is a direction of the turning of the vehicle (1) caused by the driving assist control. The conjunction reaction force control includes feedforward reaction force control that moves the steering wheel (3) in a same direction as the driving assist direction (Da) without depending on a steering angle (θs) of the steering wheel (3).