Vehicle Steering Torque Compensation via Tilt Angle Feedforward Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle steering systems struggle to rapidly and effectively correct undesired steering torque, known as steering pull, which occurs when vehicles travel on non-level road surfaces, requiring manual driver input and often resulting in uncomfortable and unpredictable vehicle paths.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle controller system that measures the tilt angle of the vehicle using sensors and generates feedforward control data to rapidly adjust the steering system, providing counteractive torque to compensate for steering pull, while also utilizing feedback control to further refine steering adjustments based on real-time sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional feedback control is used to correct steering pull, then the system can respond to steering deviations, but the response time is too slow to effectively compensate for steering pull on non-level road surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures the tilt angle of the vehicle body using tilt sensors and generates feedforward control torque commands in advance based on the detected tilt angle, before the steering pull actually occurs. This preliminary action allows the steering system to proactively compensate for steering pull caused by non-level road surfaces, rather than reacting after the pull has already affected vehicle path
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines feedforward control based on tilt angle measurement with feedback control that monitors actual steering torque and vehicle position. The feedback component continuously adjusts the steering torque to maintain desired vehicle path, creating a hybrid control system that achieves both fast response and accurate correction
2Ease of operation
If manual driver input is required to correct steering pull, then the driver can adjust the steering wheel, but this results in driver discomfort and unpredictable vehicle paths
Solution Approach 1:
The steering system automatically generates and applies counteractive torque to compensate for steering pull without requiring manual driver input. The system uses tilt sensors to detect road surface inclination and autonomously adjusts steering torque through the feedforward control algorithm, making the steering system self-correcting and eliminating the need for continuous manual adjustment by the driver
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables vehicles to maintain a desired path on uneven road surfaces by rapidly and automatically correcting steering pull, reducing driver discomfort and the need for manual corrections, and improving steering system response times beyond what traditional feedback control alone can achieve.
Implementation Method 1
A first sensor may be used to measure a tilt angle associated with a vehicle positioned on a road surface
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to control steering of a vehicle are disclosed. An example system includes a first sensor to measure a tilt angle associated with a vehicle positioned on a road surface. The example system also includes a vehicle controller communicatively coupled to the first sensor to receive the tilt angle. In addition, the example system includes steering system communicatively coupled to the vehicle controller. The vehicle controller provides feedforward control data to the steering system based on the tilt angle. The steering system generates a first steering torque based on the feedforward control data.