Steering Actuator Haptic Feedback for Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current active safety systems in vehicles primarily rely on audiovisual cues for driver feedback, which may not effectively prevent side collisions, especially in situations where drivers are distracted or unaware of their surroundings.
Innovation Solution
An advanced vehicle safety system that incorporates an environmental monitoring system and steering actuator to provide haptic feedback through the steering wheel, modifying assist torque based on proximity to objects and potential collision threats, thereby guiding the driver to avoid collisions by opposing or assisting lane changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If audiovisual cues are used for driver feedback, then the system is simple to implement, but the effectiveness in preventing side collisions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The steering actuator serves as an intermediary between the environmental monitoring system and the driver. It translates detected environmental threats into haptic feedback through the steering wheel, providing intuitive physical guidance to the driver without requiring complex additional interfaces or controls
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional audiovisual feedback mechanisms with mechanical haptic feedback through the steering actuator. This substitution provides more intuitive and immediate driver guidance, especially effective when drivers are distracted or unaware of their surroundings
2Loss of information
If haptic feedback through steering actuator is implemented, then driver awareness is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering actuator, which already provides power steering assistance, is enhanced to also provide haptic feedback for safety warnings. This multi-functionality allows the system to communicate environmental threats through the existing steering interface without adding separate warning devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where the environmental monitoring system continuously detects objects and conditions, the controller processes this information, and the steering actuator provides real-time haptic feedback to the driver through the steering wheel, creating an intuitive information loop
3Reliability
If steering intervention is provided based on environmental monitoring, then collision avoidance is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and analysis of environmental conditions before a collision becomes imminent. The environmental monitoring system continuously scans for potential threats, and the controller prepares appropriate steering interventions in advance, allowing proactive rather than reactive safety responses
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the environmental monitoring function with the existing power steering control system. The controller integrates data from sensors detecting objects, lane marks, and vehicle conditions with the steering actuator control, combining multiple functions into a unified system that reduces overall complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Technical solutions described herein include a steering system that includes a motor that generates assist torque, and a controller that generates a motor torque command for controlling an amount of the assist torque generated by the motor. The steering system further includes a remote object assist module that computes a steering intervention based on a proximity of a vehicle from a detected object. The controller changes the motor torque command using the steering intervention.