Steering Wheel Position Control for Driver Assistance Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver assistance systems lack an intuitive and safe method for transferring responsibility between the autopilot function and the driver, with a risk of accidental activation or deactivation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a steering wheel that can be adjusted between two positions, where the autopilot function is activated when the steering wheel is moved away from the driver and deactivated when pulled towards them, with additional control elements requiring simultaneous actuation for safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the autopilot function is activated or deactivated using conventional control elements, then the driver can transfer responsibility to the vehicle, but accidental activation or deactivation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel is made dynamically adjustable between two positions: a first position closer to the driver and a second position farther from the driver. This dynamic repositioning serves as the activation/deactivation mechanism, where moving the steering wheel to the second position activates the autopilot function and moving it to the first position deactivates the function. The dynamic nature of this mechanism provides an intuitive and safe way to transfer responsibility without risking accidental activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering wheel adjustment mechanism is segmented into two distinct positions, each corresponding to a specific operational state of the autopilot function. The detection device monitors which position the steering wheel is in and accordingly activates or deactivates the autopilot function. This segmentation clearly separates the activation and deactivation states, reducing the risk of accidental transitions.
2Ease of operation
If the steering wheel position is used to control autopilot, then the transfer of responsibility becomes intuitive, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel serves multiple functions: it is both the primary control element for vehicle direction and the activation/deactivation mechanism for the autopilot function. The same steering wheel that the driver uses for normal steering operations is also used to transfer responsibility to the autopilot by adjusting its position. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate control elements, maintaining intuitiveness while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the driver's own steering wheel adjustment action to trigger the autopilot activation or deactivation. When the driver manually adjusts the steering wheel between positions, the detection device automatically recognizes this action and accordingly activates or deactivates the autopilot function without requiring additional inputs or complex control sequences. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for a driver assistance system (12) of a vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) comprises a steering wheel (16), which can be moved manually between a first position (21) and a second position (22). The steering wheel (16) lies at a farther distance from a user sitting in a driver's seat (17) of the vehicle (10) in the second position (22) than in the first position (21). In the method, a position of the steering wheel (16) is detected and the driver assistance system (12) is set in dependence on the position of the steering wheel (16).