Steering Wheel Retraction Control for Driver Contact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering systems in autonomous vehicles often require unnecessary control when a driver intentionally or unintentionally contacts a moving steering wheel, which can disrupt the operation and create safety concerns by stopping the wheel unnecessarily.
Innovation Solution
A steering system with a rotary shaft, moving unit, external force detection unit, and control unit that determines the direction of external forces applied to the steering wheel, allowing efficient control based on the driver's intention to move the wheel between operational and storage positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the steering wheel is moved to create space in front of the driver during autonomous driving, then driver comfort is improved, but the risk of contact between the driver and moving steering wheel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting external forces applied to the steering wheel before the driver can be harmed. The external force detection unit monitors the steering wheel during movement, and when contact is detected, the control unit immediately stops the moving unit, preventing potential injury while allowing the steering wheel to move for driver comfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the steering system stops the operation member whenever external force is detected, then driver safety is improved, but unnecessary control operations occur when the driver intentionally contacts the wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the external force detection unit to determine whether to stop the steering wheel movement. The control unit receives detection results and decides on stopping based on whether external force exceeds a predetermined threshold, allowing intentional contact while preventing harmful contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of external force magnitude detection to distinguish between intentional and unintentional contact. By detecting whether the external force exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system can differentiate between deliberate driver interaction and accidental contact, adjusting the stop decision accordingly.
3Area of stationary object
If the steering wheel moves between normal position and storage area, then space in front of driver is increased, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it controls the moving unit to relocate the steering wheel between normal and storage positions, detects external forces through the external force detection unit, determines whether to stop based on detection results, and manages the overall steering system operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering system configured to steer a vehicle includes a rotary shaft to which an operation member is coupled; a moving unit configured to move the operation member between a normal position that is a position where the operation member is operated by a driver, and a storage area located ahead of the normal position; an external force detection unit configured to detect an external force externally applied to the operation member while the operation member is moving; a determination unit configured to determine whether a direction of the external force detected by the external force detection unit is the same as a moving direction of the operation member; and a control unit configured to control operation of the steering system based on a determination result from the determination unit.