Steering Feel Feedback During Automated Driving Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with partially automated driving functions, drivers experience a decrease in their feel for handling the vehicle when they have their hands off the steering wheel for extended periods, leading to discomfort and increased accident risk during transitions from automated to manual control.
Innovation Solution
A method that adjusts the steering feel by influencing the steering system through a feedback actuator and actuator, adjusting parameters such as steering support, centering, and support strength based on the duration of driver inactivity, to facilitate a smooth transition back to manual control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the driver has hands off the steering wheel for extended periods in automated driving mode, then automation level is improved, but driver's feel for handling the vehicle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting the transition condition (driver requests manual control) and proactively adjusting the steering feel before the driver fully takes control. The feedback actuator is activated in advance to reintroduce steering sensations, preventing the driver from being unprepared for manual handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by monitoring the driver's steering wheel torque and the duration of automated driving mode. This feedback information triggers the feedback actuator to provide appropriate steering sensations, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to the driver's needs and maintains handling feel during transitions.
2Ease of operation
If the steering support is strongly increased during transition, then driver comfort is improved, but the steering system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the steering support adjustable rather than fixed. The feedback actuator dynamically modifies the steering sensations based on real-time conditions (duration of automated mode, driver input strength), allowing the system to adapt the support level to match driver expectations without requiring complex permanent modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by modifying the steering feel characteristics (support strength, centering force, feedback magnitude) based on the transition state. The feedback actuator adjusts these parameters dynamically, providing enhanced comfort during transition while maintaining system simplicity through software-controlled parameter modification rather than hardware complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is for operating a steering system in a vehicle. The vehicle is configured to operate at different levels of automation. The steering system includes a steering handle by which a driver of the vehicle acts on the steering and which provides steering feel as feedback to the driver using a feedback unit. A signal is generated upon a transition from a higher level of automation to a lower level of automation. The signal influences the steering feel provided to the driver from the feedback unit during a handover period.