Steering Assistance Torque Gradient Limiting for Driver Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driver steering assistance systems can be uncomfortable for drivers due to sudden and unfamiliar changes in steering forces, which can be disturbing, especially when the driver does not wish to cooperate with the proposed steering movement.
Innovation Solution
The additional actuating torque is adapted by limiting its gradient and difference with the driver's manual torque, ensuring it does not exceed prespecified maximum values, and is only applied when necessary, allowing the driver to easily compensate or override it, thus enhancing steering comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional actuating torque is applied to correct lane deviation, then steering assistance effectiveness is improved, but driver comfort deteriorates due to sudden and unfamiliar changes in steering forces
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating torque is made dynamic by continuously adapting its gradient based on current steering conditions. The control device calculates a maximum gradient value that varies with the current actuating torque magnitude, allowing the system to transition smoothly from no torque to full torque correction while maintaining driver comfort throughout the transition process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of actuating torque gradient from a fixed value to a variable maximum gradient. By limiting the gradient to a calculated maximum value that considers the current torque state, the system transforms the torque application from abrupt to gradual, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and comfort.
2Force
If large actuating torque is applied to correct significant lane deviations, then steering correction capability is improved, but driver disturbance increases when driver does not wish to cooperate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rate of torque application based on the magnitude of correction needed. Even when large actuating torque is required for significant lane deviations, the gradient limitation ensures the torque builds up gradually, allowing the driver to react and compensate if desired, thus maintaining correction capability while reducing disturbance.
Solution Approach 2:
The gradient limitation acts as a preliminary protective measure against driver disturbance. By pre-calculating and enforcing a maximum gradient that the driver can comfortably compensate for, the system prevents excessive disturbance before it occurs, while still allowing sufficient torque to be applied for effective correction.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for supporting a driver when steering a vehicle, in which a servo torque, as well as an additional actuating torque that may additionally be exerted on the steering system of the vehicle, are produced in order to cause the driver to make a change in the position of the steering wheel. The steering intervention by the additional required actuating torque may be made significantly more comfortable if the gradient of the actuating torque is limited to a maximum value.