Steering Control Device for Automatic Driving Mode Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

When automatic driving mode is cancelled and switched to manual driving mode, vehicles may unintentionally travel in unintended directions due to non-zero steering angles, posing safety risks if drivers are unaware of the existing steering angles.

Innovation Solution

A steering control device with a steering control unit, cancellation instruction detection unit, and steering angle reduction unit that detects cancellation instructions and vehicle stops to reduce the steering angle to zero, ensuring safe transitions from automatic to manual driving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the steering angle is maintained at a non-zero value during mode transition, then the vehicle can continue along the intended automatic driving route, but the vehicle may travel in an unintended direction when manual driving begins without driver awareness

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddriver awareness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by detecting the cancellation instruction before the mode transition is complete and proactively reducing the steering angle to zero during the transition period. This preliminary adjustment ensures that when manual driving begins, the steering wheel is already in the neutral position, preventing unintended vehicle movement and enhancing safety without requiring driver awareness of the intermediate state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the steering angle is reduced to zero when cancellation instruction is detected, then the vehicle safety is improved, but the vehicle may not continue along the intended route smoothly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidtravel path stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system executes preliminary action by reducing the steering angle to zero during the mode transition before manual driving begins. This timing ensures that the vehicle is safely positioned and the steering is neutralized, allowing the driver to take full control. The preliminary adjustment prioritizes safety over continuous route following, as the driver can then make any necessary corrections to maintain the intended travel path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3299259B1Steering control device and steering control method
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 DENSO CORP
  • EP3299259B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3299259B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3299259B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A steering control device (1) that can set and cancel an automatic driving mode includes a steering control unit (5), a cancellation instruction detection unit (3), a stop detection unit (3), and a steering angle reduction unit (5). The steering control unit (5) controls a steering angle in the automatic driving mode so that a vehicle travels along an intended route. The cancellation instruction detection unit (3) detects a cancellation instruction to cancel the automatic driving mode. The stop detection unit (3) detects a stop of the vehicle. The steering angle reduction unit (5) reduces the steering angle set by the steering control unit, if the cancellation instruction detection unit detects the cancellation instruction and the stop detection unit detects the stop of the vehicle.