Steering Torque Overlay Control for Predictive Hybrid-Mode Transitions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle steering systems fail to anticipate and provide timely steering torque overlays due to reliance on current vehicle status data, neglecting future road and environmental factors, leading to instability and safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle computer system that analyzes data from multiple sensors to predict the need for steering torque overlays based on upcoming road scenarios and environmental conditions, providing anticipatory adjustments to the steering system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If conventional steering systems rely only on current vehicle status data, then the system complexity is reduced, but the steering torque adjustment timeliness and vehicle stability are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidsteering torque adjustment timeliness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of sensor data to predict future steering torque requirements before they are actually needed. By analyzing current sensor data and predicting future road conditions, the system proactively adjusts steering torque in advance, eliminating the time delay inherent in reactive conventional systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts steering torque based on real-time sensor data and predicted road conditions. Rather than using fixed torque values, the system continuously adapts torque output to match anticipated driving scenarios, improving responsiveness while maintaining manageable system complexity through adaptive control algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If conventional steering systems use only current status information, then the information processing requirement is reduced, but the vehicle stability in complex road scenarios is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation processing requirementVSAvoidvehicle stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of sensor data to predict future steering torque requirements before they are actually needed. By analyzing current sensor data and predicting future road conditions, the system proactively adjusts steering torque in advance, eliminating the time delay inherent in reactive conventional systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors sensor data from multiple sources including cameras, radar, lidars, and inertial measurement units, then uses this feedback to dynamically adjust steering torque. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures vehicle stability by constantly comparing actual vehicle state with desired state and making real-time corrections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If reactive overlay torque is provided only after steering angle diverges, then the control response is simplified, but the driver assistance effectiveness is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol response complexityVSAvoiddriver assistance effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of sensor data to predict future steering torque requirements before they are actually needed. By analyzing current sensor data and predicting future road conditions, the system proactively adjusts steering torque in advance, eliminating the time delay inherent in reactive conventional systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intelligent control algorithm as an intermediary between sensor data and steering torque output. This intermediary layer analyzes sensor inputs, predicts road conditions, and determines optimal torque adjustments, bridging the gap between raw data and effective driver assistance while maintaining manageable control complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12617465B2Dynamically adjusting steering torque overlay output

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 PLUSAI INC

AI summary

Embodiments provide a vehicle computer coupled to a vehicle. The vehicle computer may be configured to receive sensor data from a plurality of sensors of the autonomous vehicle, analyze the sensor data, predict a need for a steering torque overlay based on analyzing the sensor data, determine a steering torque overlay output based on at least the sensor data, provide the steering torque overlay output to a steering system of the vehicle, and control the steering system in view of the steering torque overlay output. The steering torque overlay output is provided to the steering system while the vehicle is transitioning from an autonomous mode or a manual mode to a hybrid mode where the steering system is controlled simultaneously by the vehicle computer and a driver when the steering torque overlay output is applied.