Steering System Abnormality Discrimination via Dual Operation Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

In autonomous vehicle steering systems, existing technologies fail to effectively discriminate between various types of abnormalities in sensors and mechanisms, and may be interfered with by drivers or obstacles during electric motor operation of the steering wheel, affecting driver comfort and system reliability.

Innovation Solution

A steering system with a determiner device using sensors and electric drive sources to monitor and determine abnormalities in displacement mechanisms and detectors, allowing for discrimination of abnormal operations and potential interference through positional and drive information analysis, and enabling corrective actions by other operation devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the steering wheel is moved by an electric motor during autonomous driving to secure wide space, then driver comfort is improved, but the risk of interference from driver or obstacles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver comfortVSAvoidinterference from driver or obstacles
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary abnormality determination before the steering wheel movement completes, checking sensor status and motor operation in advance to predict potential interference issues. This allows the system to prepare corrective actions proactively rather than reactively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors sensor output values and motor operation status during steering wheel movement, comparing actual values against expected ranges. When deviations indicating potential interference are detected, the system provides feedback to adjust motor control or alert the driver, resolving the contradiction between movement benefit and interference risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If sensors and mechanisms are used to track steering wheel position, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the complexity of detecting and measuring abnormalities increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidabnormality detection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The abnormality detection process is segmented into distinct stages: sensor output validation, motor operation monitoring, and abnormality determination. Each stage handles specific aspects of the measurement chain, simplifying the overall complexity while maintaining high positioning accuracy through focused monitoring at each segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control device performs multiple functions using the same sensor and motor data: it determines steering wheel position for autonomous control, monitors for sensor abnormalities, detects motor issues, and identifies potential interference. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems, lowering overall detection complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3929060B1Steering system, abnormality determination method, and non-transitory storage medium
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 JTEKT CORP
  • EP3929060B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3929060B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3929060B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A steering system (100) includes a first operation device (110) including a first displacement mechanism (111), a first electric drive source (112), and a first detector, a second operation device (120) including a second displacement mechanism (121), a second electric drive source (122), and a second detector, and a determiner (150) configured to determine that the first operation device (110) and the second operation device (120) do not malfunction when the determiner (150) determines that the first operation device (110) has an abnormality based on first operation information related to operation of the first operation device (110), and that the second operation device (120) has an abnormality based on second operation information related to operation of the second operation device (120).