Steering Coupling Decoupling for Automatic Intervention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle steering systems are complex and not widely available, making it difficult to implement automatic steering interventions to reduce accident consequences effectively.
Innovation Solution
A steering system with an adjustable coupling element between the steering wheel and servo unit, allowing for decoupling in dangerous situations to prevent abrupt steering wheel movements, enabling the servo unit to generate a high torque for automatic steering without affecting the driver, and an electromechanical coupling that can be actuated by a control unit based on sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an active steering system is used to enable automatic steering interventions, then the ability to reduce accident consequences is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering system is segmented into two independent parts: the driver's steering control path (steering wheel to steering rack) and the automatic intervention path (servo unit to steering rack). The coupling element acts as a switch that can disconnect the driver's path while maintaining the automatic path, allowing automatic steering interventions without requiring a completely complex active steering system.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element serves as an intermediary component that mediates between the driver's steering input and the servo unit's automatic steering intervention. It allows the system to selectively connect or disconnect the driver's steering wheel from the steering rack, enabling automatic interventions while protecting the driver from abrupt movements.
2Speed
If the servo unit generates high torque for rapid steering response, then the speed of accident response is improved, but the risk of driver injury from abrupt steering wheel movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is opened in advance before the servo unit activates, preemptively preventing any potential abrupt steering wheel movement from reaching the driver. This preliminary decoupling ensures that when the servo unit generates high torque for rapid steering response, the driver is protected from the harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element acts as a protective intermediary that blocks the transmission of high-torque servo unit movements to the steering wheel and driver. It allows the servo unit to generate the necessary high torque for rapid response while isolating the driver from the potentially harmful abrupt movements.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering system of a vehicle in the transmission path between the steering wheel and the point of application of a servo unit includes a coupling element which is adjustable between a closed position transmitting a steering movement and a decoupled open position.