Steering Torque Segmentation for Driver Awareness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driver assistance systems for non-track-bound vehicles fail to ensure reliable driver awareness of steering recommendations when the driver holds the steering wheel tightly, while minimizing vehicle deviation from the original course when the driver holds it loosely or not at all.

Innovation Solution

Applying a steering torque to the driver's steering wheel with a higher angular speed in the recommended direction and subsequently a lower angular speed in the opposite direction to neutralize the torque, ensuring the driver is aware of the recommendation without significant vehicle deviation, using an electric motor or servomotor controlled by an electronic control unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a steering torque is applied to the steering wheel with sufficient magnitude and duration to ensure driver awareness, then the driver notices the steering recommendation, but the vehicle deviates considerably from the original course when the driver holds the steering wheel loosely or not at all

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver awareness of steering recommendationVSAvoidvehicle deviation from original course

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The steering torque application is segmented into two distinct phases: a first steering torque in the recommended direction to ensure driver awareness, and a second counter-steering torque in the opposite direction to neutralize vehicle deviation. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both driver notification and course stability without compromising either objective

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies a preliminary steering torque to ensure driver awareness of the recommended direction, then immediately applies a counter-steering torque as an anti-action to prevent harmful vehicle deviation. This preliminary anti-action approach ensures that the driver perceives the steering recommendation while the vehicle maintains its original trajectory

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If the steering torque magnitude is increased to ensure driver awareness when holding the steering wheel tightly, then the driver notices the recommendation, but the system becomes less effective when the driver holds the steering wheel loosely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver awareness of steering recommendationVSAvoideffectiveness under different driver steering wheel holding conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts its steering torque strategy based on detected driver steering wheel holding force. When the driver holds the steering wheel tightly, the system applies a first steering torque at a first angular speed to ensure awareness. When the driver holds the steering wheel loosely or not at all, the system applies a second counter-steering torque at a second angular speed to prevent excessive vehicle deviation, thereby maintaining effectiveness across different driver interaction conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 ensures reliable driver awareness of steering recommendations while minimizing vehicle deviation from the original course, even when the driver is not holding the steering wheel tightly, by applying countersteering that is less noticeable to the driver, effectively neutralizing the steering recommendation's effect on the vehicle's orientation.

Implementation Method 1

by applying a steering torque to the driver's steering wheel, makes a direction-oriented steering recommendation to the driver by way of an electric motor or the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Implementation Method 2

subsequently a steering wheel angle is set or at least is to be set in the opposite rotating direction at an angular speed that is lower in its amount

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Data Source

PatentUS9371089B2Driver assistance system of a non-track-bound vehicle

Publication Date: 2016.06.21 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

A driver assistance system and method of operating same is provided for a non-track-bound. By applying a steering torque to the driver's steering wheel via an electric motor, a direction-oriented steering recommendation is made to the driver. By this steering torque, first, a steering wheel angle in the recommended rotating direction at an angular speed that is greater in its amount is set and subsequently a steering wheel angle is set in the opposite rotating direction at an angular speed that is lower in its amount. Subsequent to the setting of the steering wheel angle having the opposite rotating direction, at a comparatively lower angular speed, a further steering wheel angle can be set, by which the vehicle is changed along a straight course of the road essentially to the orientation held before the making of the direction-oriented steering recommendation.