Steering Wheel Squeeze Sensors for Brake-by-Wire Response
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle braking systems require drivers to physically move their foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal, resulting in significant time delays during emergency stops, as there is no intuitive connection between the steering wheel and braking system, leading to potential safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A brake-by-wire system with 'squeeze' sensors integrated into the steering wheel, allowing drivers to control vehicle braking by squeezing the wheel without moving their foot, interfacing with an electronic braking system to rapidly stop or slow the vehicle using piezoresistive or other sensors and an electronic control unit connected to electronic calipers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If drivers use traditional brake pedal systems, then braking control is reliable, but stopping time increases due to foot movement from accelerator to brake pedal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the steering wheel with braking control functionality by integrating force sensors into the steering wheel structure. This allows the steering wheel to serve dual purposes: steering and braking activation, eliminating the need for separate brake pedal operation and reducing stopping time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces force sensors as an intermediary between the driver's hand pressure on the steering wheel and the braking system activation. These sensors detect the magnitude of force applied to the steering wheel and translate it into corresponding braking signals, enabling intuitive braking control.
2Speed
If drivers must move foot from accelerator to brake pedal, then braking control is precise, but response time decreases in emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical foot-operated brake pedal system with an electronic sensing system that detects force applied to the steering wheel. This substitution allows for faster electronic signal transmission from the force sensors to the braking system, significantly improving response speed while maintaining control reliability through multiple sensor inputs.
3Loss of time
If steering wheel is integrated with braking system, then stopping time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the steering wheel a multi-functional component by integrating force sensors that enable braking control in addition to its primary steering function. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions, reducing the need for separate controls and potentially simplifying the overall interface while reducing stopping time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables faster and more intuitive vehicle stops by eliminating the need for foot movement, allowing drivers to control braking through the steering wheel, potentially reducing stopping times and enhancing safety in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure sensors are piezoresistive sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A brake-by-wire vehicle braking system is augmented with “squeeze” sensors placed in the steering wheel of the vehicle enabling a vehicle operator to stop the vehicle more quickly in an emergency situation by eliminating the significant times that it takes to move a driver's foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal and then depress the brake pedal. An important objective is to achieve a faster vehicle stop by allowing the driver to optionally eliminate foot movement from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal and also the depression of the brake pedal. This invention also potentially allows a driver to squeeze a steering wheel to slow a vehicle, perhaps to comply with a lower speed limit, or accomplish the fastest possible “hard-stop” in an emergency situation.