Steering Lock Control with Redundant ECU Motion Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle control systems for steering lock mechanisms are inefficient in preventing unauthorized locking while the vehicle is in motion, often requiring multiple CPUs and increasing costs and vulnerability to external attacks.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system comprising a network of ECUs, including a TCU, core ECU, first ECU, second ECU with an electric steering lock function, third ECU for keyless entry, and fourth ECU for driving control, utilizing CAN communication networks and redundant control signals to ensure secure locking only when the vehicle is stationary, reducing the number of CPUs needed and enhancing security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple CPUs are used in the vehicle control system to ensure steering lock safety, then the reliability and security of steering lock control is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the steering lock control function with the existing driving control ECU, merging two separate control functions into a single ECU. This integration eliminates the need for separate dedicated steering lock control hardware while maintaining safety through software-based dual-CPU redundancy within the same ECU, thereby reducing overall device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The driving control ECU is designed to perform multiple functions including both driving control and steering lock control. By making the ECU universal and multi-functional, the system avoids the need for separate dedicated control units for steering lock, reducing the total number of CPUs required while maintaining comprehensive control capability
2Reliability
If multiple CPUs are deployed for steering lock control, then the security against external attacks is improved, but the vulnerability to external attacks increases due to more entry points
Solution Approach 1:
By merging steering lock control into the driving control ECU, the system reduces the number of separate control units and their associated communication interfaces. This consolidation decreases the attack surface for external threats while maintaining security through integrated dual-CPU verification within the same secure ECU environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component that mediates communication between the ECU and external systems. This gateway acts as a security filter and communication manager, reducing direct exposure of control units to external attacks while maintaining necessary communication functionality
3Reliability
If the steering lock control system processes multiple signals for safety verification, then the reliability of lock control is improved, but the processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by the first CPU of the second CPU's determination result before final execution. This staged verification approach allows efficient processing by having the first CPU focus on critical safety checks while the second CPU handles comprehensive signal verification, reducing overall processing time while maintaining high reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-CPU system implements partial verification where the first CPU verifies critical safety aspects of the second CPU's determination, rather than completely re-processing all signals. This partial verification approach maintains high reliability while significantly reducing processing time compared to full redundant processing
Data Source
AI summary
The vehicle control system comprises: a first ECU comprising a processor for receiving first information that indicates whether a vehicle is moving and, based on the first information, generating a first control signal to control locking of a steering; and a second ECU comprising a processor for receiving second information that indicates whether the vehicle is moving and, based on the second information, generating a second control signal to control the locking of the steering, wherein the second ECU outputs a signal to lock the steering based on the first control signal and the second control signal.