Vehicle Steering System with Opposite Force Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle steering systems either rely solely on human intervention or automation, lacking collaboration between the two, which can lead to safety issues during conditions of poor visibility or driver distraction, and may cause the driver to feel excluded from control, potentially resulting in unsafe reactions.
Innovation Solution
A steering system that combines human and automated inputs through an epicyclic toothed wheel or actuator, where the star wheel rotates opposite to the driver's instinctive reaction, ensuring harmonious steering and providing visual and haptic feedback to enhance driver awareness and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automation is overused in steering systems, then driving safety is improved, but driver awareness and control authority deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional force feedback direction by applying opposite force feedback that counteracts the automated steering input. When the automated system steers in one direction, the force feedback acts in the opposite direction, allowing the driver to maintain control authority while the automated system provides safety assistance. This inversion resolves the contradiction by preserving driver awareness and control while maintaining improved driving safety.
2Ease of operation
If force feedback acts in the same direction as automated steering input, then steering control is simplified, but driver trust and control authority deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies force feedback in the opposite direction to the automated steering input, creating a collaborative interaction where the driver feels in control while the automated system provides assistance. This opposite-direction feedback mechanism maintains driver trust and control authority while preserving ease of steering control through the harmonious combination of driver and automated inputs.
3Ease of operation
If automated system deactivates when driver intervenes, then control conflict is avoided, but collaboration between driver and aid deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the driver's steering input with the automated system's steering input through a combination mechanism that processes both inputs simultaneously. This merging allows the driver and automated aid to collaborate continuously without deactivation, avoiding control conflicts while maintaining adaptability and versatility in their collaborative interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
By applying opposite force feedback, the system creates a collaborative paradigm where both driver and automated system remain active and influential. The inverse feedback mechanism ensures that driver intervention does not trigger deactivation, instead fostering continuous collaboration while preventing control conflicts through the balanced interaction of opposing forces.
Data Source
AI summary
Steering system comprising a rotatably mounted command member, the rotation of which is aimed at transmitting first command signals to a steering box, the steering box sets the steering angle of the wheels of a vehicle.The command member comprises a star wheel mounted inside said command member in a rotatable manner with respect to said command member, there being a system of sensors aimed at detecting the distance of the vehicle from reference points, such as objects, road strips or the like.Said sensor system is connected at least to said star wheel, said sensor system comprising means for activating the rotation of the star wheel, which activation means are configured to rotate the star wheel in the direction of said reference points.