Steering Torque Control for Driver Hands-Off Emergency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driver assistance systems are inadequate in preventing collisions when a driver fails to perform their driving tasks due to fatigue or health issues, especially at high speeds, as they often switch to automatic driving mode without effectively mitigating the risk of accidents.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that detect a 'hands-off' situation, issue warnings, and intervene by applying returning torque to the steering, oscillating the vehicle within lane markings, and using brake jerks and visual warnings to provoke driver reaction, reducing speed and preventing lane departure, without relying on complex sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the driver assistance system switches to automatic driving mode when driver failure is detected, then the vehicle can maintain high speed, but the system complexity increases and reliability decreases due to inability to effectively counteract partial or total driver failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle speedVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of switching to automatic driving mode when driver failure is detected, the system applies the opposite approach by using deactivated lateral guidance with returning torque to gently guide the vehicle back into the lane. This inverted strategy avoids the complexity and reliability issues of full automatic driving while still preventing lane departure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts only the essential function needed to prevent lane departure (returning torque) without implementing the full automatic driving mode. This selective extraction reduces system complexity while maintaining the critical safety function of keeping the vehicle in lane.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If complex sensor systems are used to detect driver physical inability, then detection reliability improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential detection function (hands-off detection) without implementing complex sensor systems. By focusing on the critical indicator of driver failure (hands leaving the steering wheel), the system achieves adequate detection reliability with minimal complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses simple, inexpensive hands-off detection mechanisms rather than expensive complex sensor systems. This approach accepts that the detection system may have limitations but provides sufficient functionality for the intended purpose at low cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If lateral guidance support is activated to prevent lane departure, then collision risk decreases, but the system becomes less adaptable to driver intent and requires more complex control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision preventionVSAvoiddriver intent adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of activating lateral guidance support that may conflict with driver intent, the system uses the opposite approach of deactivated guidance with returning torque. This gentle guidance method reduces conflict with driver intent while still preventing lane departure, maintaining adaptability while improving safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This approach reduces the risk of collision consequences by keeping the vehicle within its lane, alerting the driver and surrounding traffic, and gradually reducing speed to a safe level, minimizing the severity of potential accidents.

Implementation Method 1

a hands-off detection device (23) which detects a driver's hands-off situation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure detection: Pressure-sensitive Paint

Implementation Method 2

a returning torque is applied to the steering device of the vehicle if it is detected that the vehicle is left by the current lane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorque application: Torque

Implementation Method 3

reducing the vehicle speed in an intervention phase to a speed lower than the specified limit speed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction braking: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3003768B1Emergency assistance by deactivated steering assistance

Publication Date: 2018.10.31 VOLKSWAGEN AG

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for transitioning a vehicle driving without activated lateral guidance assistance into a driving state having reduced risk of collision consequences in the event of an emergency of the driver, wherein the speed of the vehicle is greater than a threshold speed, wherein the following steps are performed: detecting a hands-off situation of the driver in a hands-off phase and outputting a hands-off warning, performing a warning escalation in an escalation phase if there is no response to the hands-off warning, and reducing the vehicle speed to a speed less than the threshold speed in an intervention phase if there is no response in the escalation phase. During the hands-off phase, the escalation phase, and the intervention phase, a returning torque is applied to the steering apparatus of the vehicle if it is detected that the vehicle is leaving the current lane.