Steering Override Detection Using Contact Position and Torque
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle driving assist systems often incorrectly interpret steering torque as a driver's intention, leading to uncomfortable transitions from automatic to manual driving modes due to external disturbances or accidental contact, causing discomfort for the driver.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle driving assist system that includes a steering wheel contact position detector, a steering torque detector, and a driving mode setting calculator to differentiate between intended steering overrides and false detections, allowing the system to continue in automatic mode for false detections and transition to manual mode only when a deliberate steering override is confirmed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the system uses steering torque detection to determine driver intention, then the automatic driving can respond to driver needs, but false detections from external disturbances cause unnecessary mode transitions and driver discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel is divided into multiple detection zones (first contact area, second contact area, third contact area) with different sensor arrangements. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between accidental contact (typically on outer rim areas) and intentional steering input (typically on inner grip areas), thereby reducing false detections while maintaining responsiveness to genuine driver intentions.
Solution Approach 2:
A steering angle detector is introduced as an intermediary component that works in conjunction with the torque detector. By comparing both torque magnitude and steering angle changes, the system can filter out false torque signals caused by external disturbances and accurately identify genuine driver steering intentions, thus improving detection reliability without sacrificing responsiveness.
2Ease of operation
If the system transitions to manual mode upon detecting steering torque, then driver intentions are respected, but accidental contact or external disturbances cause unnecessary mode transitions and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel rim is segmented into multiple contact detection zones with different sensor types or thresholds. Accidental contact typically occurs on outer zones while intentional steering occurs on inner grip zones. This spatial segmentation enables the system to differentiate between false and true steering inputs, maintaining driver comfort by avoiding unnecessary mode transitions while still responding to genuine intentions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple sensors (torque detector, contact position detector, steering angle detector) to continuously monitor steering input patterns. By analyzing the consistency and characteristics of detected signals against expected driver behavior patterns, the system can distinguish between accidental contact and intentional steering, thereby improving measurement precision for steering intention detection.
3Device complexity
If the system uses simple torque threshold detection, then the system complexity is low, but the system cannot distinguish between false detections and genuine steering intentions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single complex algorithm, the system segments the detection function across multiple simple sensors (torque detector, contact position detector, steering angle detector) placed at different locations on the steering wheel. Each sensor provides basic data that, when combined, enables accurate distinction between false and true steering inputs without requiring overly complex individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system uses multi-functional sensing that serves multiple purposes: torque magnitude detection, contact position identification, and steering angle measurement all occur through integrated sensor arrangements on the steering wheel. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high measurement precision using a unified detection framework rather than separate complex subsystems.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle driving assist system includes a steering wheel contact position detector, a steering torque detector, a driving mode setting calculator, and a steering override determiner. The driving mode setting calculator is configured to set a driving mode including a first driving assist mode, a second driving assist mode, and a manual driving mode. The driving mode setting calculator is configured, while traveling in a current driving mode that is the first driving assist mode or the second driving assist mode, to allow the current driving mode to continue in a case where the steering override determiner has determined that a steering torque detected by the steering torque detector is a false detection or to cause the driving mode to make a transition to the manual driving mode in a case where the steering override determiner has determined that the steering torque is a steering override intended by a driver.