Vehicle Steering HMI with Restricted Handwheel Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with autonomous driving systems, there is a challenge in managing the transition of control between human input and autonomous steering, leading to user confusion and distress when the autonomous system takes over, as traditional steering systems do not effectively integrate human input during autonomous maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A human-machine interface (HMI) control system that decouples the steering rack control from the handwheel, reducing its rotational movement to a restricted range and uses the detected angle of the handwheel to influence autonomous steering maneuvers, allowing user input to influence the autonomous driving system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the autonomous driving system takes over steering control completely, then autonomous maneuvering capability is improved, but user confusion and distress increase due to loss of control perception
Solution Approach 1:
The handwheel serves as an intermediary device that allows users to provide input during autonomous steering. The system processes handwheel angle information as a mediator between user intent and autonomous vehicle control, enabling users to influence autonomous maneuvers without direct mechanical coupling to the steering rack.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to users by responding to handwheel input during autonomous operation. When users rotate the handwheel, the autonomous driving system adjusts its maneuvers based on the detected angle, creating a feedback loop that maintains user engagement and reduces confusion about system responsiveness.
2Measurement precision
If the handwheel is mechanically decoupled from the steering rack for autonomous operation, then autonomous steering precision is improved, but user input integration capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces direct mechanical coupling between the handwheel and steering rack with an electronic control architecture. During autonomous operation, the mechanical connection is disengaged while the electronic system continues to read handwheel angle sensor data, allowing precise autonomous control while preserving user input capability through electronic rather than mechanical means.
3Extent of automation
If the handwheel rotational range is reduced to a restricted range during autonomous steering, then autonomous maneuver control is improved, but user interaction flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different operational characteristics to different aspects of handwheel interaction. The rotational range is restricted for steering control purposes during autonomous operation, but the handwheel remains accessible and responsive for providing directional input preferences, creating localized functional differentiation that satisfies both autonomous control and user interaction needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a processor and a memory in communication with the processor. The memory has a human-machine interface module having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to identify, based on sensor data regarding a vehicle and an environment in which the vehicle operates, an event in which the vehicle should perform an autonomous steering maneuver determined by an autonomous driving system. The instructions further cause the processor to, in response to identifying the event, decouple control of a steering rack of the vehicle by a handwheel of the vehicle and reduce a rational movement of the handwheel from a normal range to a restricted range, and determine, by the autonomous driving system, the autonomous steering maneuver to be performed by the vehicle influenced by an angle of the handwheel detected by the processor when the rotational movement of the handwheel is in the restricted range.