Steering Wheel Recoupling Alignment for Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, the steering wheel can become decoupled from the steering system during autonomous control, leading to misalignment between the steering wheel and vehicle wheels, which can result in unexpected vehicle motion when the steering wheel is recoupled without proper alignment.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel recoupling system that includes a wheel alignment control module to determine the decoupling, calculate the necessary alignment angle, and provide indicators or motor assistance to align the steering wheel with the vehicle wheels before recoupling, ensuring proper alignment and safe reconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the steering wheel is decoupled from the steering system during autonomous control, then autonomous steering functions can be controlled independently, but the steering wheel becomes misaligned with the vehicle wheels, causing unexpected vehicle motion when recoupled
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment of the steering wheel with the vehicle wheels before recoupling. The alignment control module calculates the alignment angle based on current wheel position and rotates the steering wheel to the correct position in advance, ensuring proper alignment when recoupling occurs and preventing unexpected vehicle motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors to detect the current angle of the vehicle wheels and the position of the steering wheel. The alignment control module continuously monitors these parameters and adjusts the steering wheel position accordingly, providing closed-loop control to maintain accurate alignment during and after recoupling.
2Loss of time
If the steering wheel is recoupled without alignment verification, then the recoupling process is faster, but the vehicle may experience unexpected motion due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the alignment calculation and steering wheel rotation before the recoupling action. By preparing the alignment in advance, the actual recoupling process can proceed quickly without sacrificing alignment accuracy, thus reducing recoupling time while preventing unexpected vehicle motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system preemptively counteracts the potential harmful effect of misalignment by automatically adjusting the steering wheel position to the correct alignment angle before recoupling. This preliminary corrective action prevents the occurrence of unexpected vehicle motion that would otherwise result from recoupling in a misaligned state.
3Measurement precision
If indicators are added to guide steering wheel alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces visual indicators as an intermediary element between the alignment control module and the driver. These indicators provide intuitive visual feedback about the steering wheel's alignment status, improving measurement precision without requiring complex mechanical alignment mechanisms. The indicators serve as a simple mediator that communicates alignment information to the driver.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes various embodiments for steering wheel recoupling for an autonomous vehicle. In an embodiment, a steering system is described. The steering system may comprise a steering wheel, wheels controlled by the steering wheel, and a wheel alignment control module. The wheel alignment control module may be configured to determine the steering wheel is decoupled from the steering system, determine a current angle of the wheels controlled by the steering wheel, activate an indicator, the indicator determined based, at least in part, upon the current angle, determine the steering wheel is positioned for recoupling, and recouple the steering wheel to the steering system.