Steering Arbitration Apparatus for Vehicle Control Conflict Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric power steering systems in vehicles face challenges in managing simultaneous control requests from multiple steering-related control systems, such as VSM, LKAS, and TJA, which can lead to conflicting steering controls and instability, as there is no established method to prioritize and arbitrate these requests effectively.
Innovation Solution
A steering arbitration apparatus and method that determines the active, inactive, or standby state of each steering-related control system based on priority, calculates a final overlay current value, and outputs it to the electric power steering apparatus, ensuring optimal control by prioritizing system commands and preventing conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple steering-related control systems operate simultaneously to provide comprehensive steering control functions, then the versatility and functionality of the steering system is improved, but conflicts and instability in steering control occur when two or more systems try to control the electric power steering system at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a steering arbitration apparatus as an intermediary component between multiple steering-related control systems and the electric power steering system. This arbiter receives overlay requests from various control systems (VSM, LKAS, TJA, PAS), determines their execution priority based on predefined criteria, and selectively transmits commands to the EPS system. This mediator resolves conflicts by ensuring only one system controls the EPS at a time, thereby maintaining steering stability while preserving the versatility of having multiple control systems available.
2Extent of automation
If steering-related control systems are added to provide autonomous steering control and active steering control functions, then the automation level of the steering system is improved, but the complexity of managing simultaneous control requests from multiple systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering arbitration apparatus serves as a centralized mediator that simplifies the management of control requests from multiple autonomous steering systems. Instead of having each system directly interact with the EPS and potentially conflict, the arbiter provides a single point of coordination that manages the complexity of prioritizing and selecting among VSM, LKAS, TJA, and PAS requests, thereby reducing overall system management complexity while maintaining high automation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the steering control architecture into distinct functional modules: individual steering-related control systems (VSM, LKAS, TJA, PAS) that generate overlay requests, a steering arbitration apparatus that processes and prioritizes these requests, and the electric power steering system that executes the selected command. This segmentation allows each component to focus on its specific function, making the overall complex system more manageable and easier to control.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an arbitration method of an electric power steering apparatus of a vehicle and arbitration apparatus thereof. When overlay requests, which are steering apparatus operation commands or requests, are input from two or more steering-related control systems in a vehicle that includes an electric power steering apparatus and two or more steering-related control systems for controlling the electric power steering apparatus, the steering apparatus operation commands are selectively transferred to the steering apparatus according to the priority of the steering-related control system to adjust various steering-related controls to not conflict with each other, thereby maintaining the stability of the vehicle and making an optimal steering control.