Steering Wheel Handover Control for Seamless Drive Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for switching between autonomous and manual drive in transportation vehicles require the driver to actuate an operating element, which is inconvenient and can be time-consuming, especially in critical situations.
Innovation Solution
A method using at least one interior camera to detect the driver's hand movements and intentions, allowing the steering wheel to be moved automatically into a position suitable for the desired drive mode without the need for the driver to actuate an operating element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver actuates an operating element to switch between drive modes, then the switching function is reliable and controllable, but the operation becomes inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects driver intentions through camera-based hand movement analysis and autonomously executes drive mode switching and steering wheel positioning without requiring the driver to actuate any operating elements. The driver simply performs natural hand movements toward or away from the steering wheel, which the system interprets and responds to automatically, making the system serve itself by eliminating the need for traditional control inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical operating element actuation system with an optical detection system (interior camera) that captures hand movements and uses image analysis to detect driver intentions. This substitution eliminates the need for physical buttons, switches, or other mechanical controls, allowing seamless switching between autonomous and manual drive modes through gesture recognition alone.
2Productivity
If the steering wheel is moved automatically based on hand movement detection, then the switching process becomes seamless and fast, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interior camera system serves multiple functions: it monitors driver presence, detects hand movements for intention recognition, and triggers both drive mode switching and steering wheel positioning operations. By making the camera system multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate sensors and control mechanisms, thereby managing system complexity while achieving seamless switching capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the drive mode switching function and steering wheel positioning function into a single integrated process triggered by hand movement detection. Instead of having separate control systems for mode switching and steering wheel adjustment, the system merges these functions so that one detection event initiates both actions simultaneously, simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining high switching speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for switching between autonomous drive and manual drive of a transportation vehicle, wherein the driver of the transportation vehicle is observed by at least one interior camera relative to a handover intention and/or takeover intention. In response to a handover intention being detected, the steering wheel is moved away from the driver and the drive is switched to autonomous drive. In response to a takeover intention being detected, the steering wheel is moved toward the hands of the driver and the drive is switched to manual drive.