Steering Control Unit Anticipatory Angle Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional driving assistance devices increase wheel wear and electric power consumption by turning the vehicle's wheels excessively during steering maneuvers, particularly when exiting a parallel parking position.

Innovation Solution

A driving assistance device with a steering control unit that anticipates and gradually adjusts the steering angle before switching states, minimizing the number of turns and reducing wheel wear and power consumption by controlling the steering angle to start directing from the initial to the final position before the state change, and only turning the wheels when necessary, based on detected obstacle distances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the steering angle is changed only after the vehicle state switches, then the control logic is simple, but the number of turns increases and exiting takes longer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidexit efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The steering angle is changed in advance before the vehicle state switches from advancing to reversing. The steering control unit starts directing the steering angle from the first steering angle toward the second steering angle before the state change occurs, so that when the state switches, the steering angle is already closer to the target position, reducing the number of turns required and improving exit efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the steering angle is changed in advance to reduce turns, then exit efficiency improves, but the actuator operates longer and consumes more power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexit efficiencyVSAvoidactuator power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The steering angle is changed in advance during the advancing state before switching to reversing, utilizing the time when the vehicle is still moving forward. This preliminary adjustment reduces the total steering correction needed after state change, thereby reducing actuator operation time and power consumption while improving exit efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The steering control maintains continuous adjustment of the steering angle across the state transition boundary. By ensuring the steering angle is already directed toward the target before state change and continues adjusting smoothly after change, the system eliminates unnecessary back-and-forth corrections, reducing total actuator operation time and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the vehicle stops to change steering angle direction, then the actuator power consumption is reduced, but the number of turns increases and wheel wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator power consumptionVSAvoidnumber of turns

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The steering angle is adjusted in advance during the advancing state while the vehicle is still moving, eliminating the need to stop the vehicle to change steering direction. This preliminary adjustment allows continuous motion through the state transition, reducing the number of turns and wheel wear while maintaining reasonable actuator power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the steering angle is adjusted smoothly and continuously, then wheel wear is reduced, but the control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel wearVSAvoidsteering control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The steering angle is adjusted in advance during the advancing state, allowing smooth transition into the reversing state without abrupt changes. This preliminary adjustment reduces the magnitude of steering corrections needed later, minimizing wheel wear while keeping control logic relatively simple by leveraging the natural state transition timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10377416B2Driving assistance device

Publication Date: 2019.08.13 AISIN SEIKI KK

AI summary

A driving assistance device including a steering control unit that, when a steering angle of a wheel of the vehicle from a first steering angle on one side of a neutral position to a second steering angle on the other side and the state of a vehicle is switched from a first state that is an advancing state or a reversing state to a second state that is the other of the advancing state or the reversing state, controls the steering angle so as to cause the steering angle to start to be directed from the first steering angle toward the second steering angle before the state of the vehicle becomes the second state and to be directed from a third steering angle in between the first steering angle and the second steering angle toward the second steering angle when the state of the vehicle is the second state.