Steering Wheel Alignment for Safe Parking Exit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current driver assistance systems for parking do not adequately prevent vehicles from unintentionally swerving into the oncoming lane when transitioning from automated to driver control, potentially leading to collisions.

Innovation Solution

The method involves aligning the steerable wheels through automatic steering intervention into a position that allows safe exit from the parking space, using sensors to determine the road layout and vehicle movement direction, and employing a control unit to calculate and execute the necessary steering interventions, ensuring the wheels are aligned in the direction of the road for safe exit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the vehicle is automatically brought out of the parking space by steering intervention, then the parking exit maneuver is automated and convenient, but the vehicle may unintentionally swerve into the oncoming lane creating safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated steering interventionVSAvoidsafety of vehicle exit maneuver
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting the road layout and vehicle orientation before the automated steering maneuver begins, then pre-calculates and adjusts the steering trajectory to prevent the vehicle from swerving into the oncoming lane. The control unit modifies the steering commands in advance to counteract potential unsafe movements, ensuring the vehicle exits the parking space only in the direction of the road.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of operation

If the driver must follow the wheel position on display to avoid unwanted movement, then the driver maintains control awareness, but the operation becomes complex and requires constant monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver control during automated maneuverVSAvoiddriver monitoring requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies self-service by automatically detecting the road layout using sensors and map data, autonomously calculating the safe exit trajectory, and self-adjusting the steering wheel position throughout the maneuver without requiring driver intervention or monitoring. The automated system serves itself by continuously adapting the steering commands based on real-time sensor feedback and pre-stored road information, freeing the driver from the need to monitor wheel position displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If the wheels are aligned during the last shunting move, then tire stress is reduced, but the parking space must be large enough to accommodate the alignment maneuver

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire stress reductionVSAvoidparking space size requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the wheel alignment timing flexible and adaptive based on the detected parking space dimensions. When the parking space is sufficiently large, the system dynamically chooses to align wheels during the last shunting move to reduce tire stress. When the parking space is small, the system dynamically adjusts to align wheels when the vehicle is stationary before the exit maneuver. This dynamic decision-making allows the system to optimize for tire protection when conditions permit, while adapting to space constraints when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2493745B1Method for support when driving out of a parking space
Publication Date: 2015.08.05 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2493745B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2493745B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for supporting a driver when driving a vehicle (1) out of a parking space (21), wherein in a first step the vehicle is brought into a position allowing departure from the parking space (21) by means of a forward motion of the vehicle (1), using an automatic steering system, and wherein the steerable wheels (17) are subsequently aligned by means of an automatic steering action in a wheel position allowing departure from the parking space (21) in the direction of traffic on the street. The invention further relates to a driver assistance system for support of a driver of a vehicle when driving out of a parking space, comprising - means for determining travel trajectories in order to bring the vehicle (1) into a position allowing departure from the parking space (21) by means of a forward motion, - means for determining the street direction, and a steering actuator (19) taking steering action as a function of the travel trajectories in order to move the vehicle (1) along the travel trajectories and taking a steering action after bringing into position, by which departure from the parking space (21) in a forward direction is enabled, in order to bring the wheels (17) into a wheel position allowing departure from the parking space (21) along the street direction.