Steering Wheel Rotation Locking for Collision-Avoidance Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle safety systems fail to effectively prevent driver-induced collisions by allowing unsafe lateral maneuvers due to delayed recognition or reaction to hazardous situations.

Innovation Solution

A steering wheel rotation locking system that determines potential collision areas and locks the steering wheel at a selected position to prevent unsafe lateral movements, using mechanical or electro-mechanical devices to physically restrict steering wheel rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the driver manually controls the steering wheel without restrictions, then the driver has full freedom to maneuver the vehicle, but the driver may inadvertently steer towards collision areas due to delayed recognition or reaction to hazardous situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision prevention capabilityVSAvoidsteering wheel controllability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of collision areas using sensors before the driver can manually steer into them. When a collision area is detected, the system proactively locks the steering wheel at safe positions to prevent the driver from inadvertently steering towards hazards, thus resolving the contradiction between collision prevention and steering freedom

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The steering wheel locking system acts as an intermediary between the driver's steering input and the vehicle's actual steering response. The controller monitors steering wheel position and selectively locks the steering wheel mechanism to block unsafe steering commands while allowing safe steering commands to pass through, mediating between driver intent and safety requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the steering wheel is locked to prevent lateral movements towards collision areas, then collision risk is reduced, but the driver's ability to respond to legitimate steering needs is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety in hazardous scenariosVSAvoidsteering wheel position flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The steering wheel locking system is dynamic rather than static. The controller continuously monitors sensor data to detect collision areas and dynamically engages or disengages the locking mechanism based on real-time conditions. The system locks the steering wheel only when collision areas are detected and maintains safe positions, while allowing full steering flexibility when no hazards are present, thus adapting to changing driving conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12606240B2System and method to prevent lateral control by limiting turning by a steering wheel

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A system is provided for implementing steering wheel controls, namely steering wheel rotation locking. In accordance with embodiments of the disclosed technology, a system may comprise a steering wheel rotation locking device; and a controller communicatively connected to the steering wheel rotation locking device to determine a presence and location of one or more objects or conditions surrounding a vehicle, and produce steering wheel control feedback to physically prevent rotational movement of a steering wheel.