Steering Controller for Autonomous Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inexperienced drivers may fail to recognize dangerous conditions or follow optimal driving trajectories, leading to potential vehicle accidents, highlighting the need for a system that assists drivers in improving their driving skills and switching between driver and autonomous modes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that includes a steering wheel and a controller to determine the target orientation of the front wheels based on environmental information, disengage the steering wheel if it deviates from the target orientation, adjust the wheels to the target orientation, and provide feedback to the driver, allowing for seamless switching between driver and autonomous modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the steering wheel is disengaged from the front wheels to enable autonomous control, then the vehicle can follow optimal trajectory and respond to dangerous conditions, but the driver loses direct control and may experience delayed feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an autonomous controller as an intermediary between the driver and the vehicle's steering system. The controller receives input from both the driver via the steering wheel and environmental sensors, then autonomously adjusts the front wheel orientation to follow optimal trajectories while avoiding obstacles. This mediator enables safe autonomous operation without completely removing driver intent.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between driver-controlled and autonomous-controlled modes based on detected dangerous conditions. When obstacles or hazards are detected, the controller transitions from passive following of driver input to active autonomous control, adjusting the steering ratio and control authority in real-time to ensure safety while maintaining driver awareness.
2Productivity
If the system automatically adjusts front wheel orientation based on environmental information, then optimal driving trajectory is achieved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it processes environmental sensor data, determines optimal trajectories, adjusts steering control in real-time, and provides feedback to the driver. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional control unit, the system achieves high driving efficiency without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where environmental sensors monitor obstacles and road conditions, the controller adjusts wheel orientation based on this information, and the driver receives feedback about autonomous interventions. This feedback mechanism enables the complex control system to adapt optimally to varying driving conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through iterative adjustment rather than overly complex pre-programming.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the steering wheel provides haptic feedback to guide the driver, then the driver can learn optimal driving behavior, but the feedback mechanism adds system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic feedback system enables the driver to self-learn optimal driving behavior through tactile guidance from the steering wheel. Instead of requiring complex external training systems or instructor intervention, the driver receives real-time haptic cues that naturally guide their steering input toward optimal trajectories, allowing self-directed learning and adaptation to safe driving patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system includes a steering wheel configured to output an output based on an input from a user, and a controller configured to: determine a target orientation of front wheels of a vehicle based on vehicle environment information, determine whether an orientation of the front wheels of the vehicle based on the output from the steering wheel deviates from the target orientation, disengage the steering wheel from the front wheels in response to determination that the orientation of the front wheels deviates from the target orientation, adjust the orientation of the front wheels to the target orientation and provide a feedback in response to adjusting the orientation of the front wheels to the target orientation.