Steering Wheel Rotation Tracking for Autonomous Vehicle Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for identifying wheel balance and alignment issues in autonomous vehicles are laborious and time-consuming, often requiring manual inspection, and there is a need for more effective real-time feedback systems.
Innovation Solution
A computing system using in-cabin cameras and neural networks to estimate steering wheel rotation values, comparing them to expected values based on vehicle trajectory, and generating notifications for potential alignment or balance issues, with threshold-based filtering to reduce false alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection methods are used to identify wheel alignment issues, then measurement precision can be maintained, but productivity decreases and loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated computer vision system using cameras and neural networks to detect steering wheel position and calculate wheel alignment status, thereby maintaining measurement precision while dramatically improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the vehicle to self-diagnose wheel alignment issues by automatically monitoring steering wheel position during operation and comparing it against expected values, eliminating the need for external manual inspection
2Reliability
If frequent manual checks are performed to ensure vehicle safety, then reliability improves, but loss of time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous real-time monitoring of wheel alignment during vehicle operation rather than periodic manual checks, ensuring continuous safety assessment without time loss and enabling immediate detection of alignment degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously compares actual steering wheel position against expected position based on vehicle trajectory, providing real-time feedback on wheel alignment status and triggering alerts when misalignment is detected, thereby maintaining reliability without requiring scheduled manual inspections
3Productivity
If automated detection systems are implemented to improve productivity, then loss of time decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a multi-functional approach where existing in-cabin cameras serve dual purposes: driver monitoring and wheel alignment detection, thereby improving productivity without adding dedicated hardware and minimizing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a software-based intermediary layer (neural network and alignment calculation module) that processes camera images to extract steering wheel position information, avoiding the need for complex dedicated sensors while achieving automated detection
Data Source
AI summary
A method for identifying potential wheel balance and alignment issues in autonomous machines is described. A computing device of an autonomous machine obtains a rotation value of a steering wheel of the autonomous vehicle. The rotation value can be obtained by analyzing images from an in-cabin camera to estimate the rotation value or it can be obtained from a sensor of the autonomous machine. The path or trajectory of the autonomous vehicle is associated with an expected rotation value and this value is compared to the obtained or initial rotation value. In response to determining a difference between the obtained rotation value and the expected rotation value being greater than a threshold value, a notification is generated to perform an alignment check of the autonomous vehicle.