Retractable Steering Wheel Synchronization for Manual Takeover
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Solution Overview
Problem
When switching from autonomous drive to manual drive, the steering wheel's rotational position often does not correspond to the steered wheels' angle, causing driver discomfort due to the need to wait for synchronization, which can be lengthy.
Innovation Solution
A steering system with a rotary shaft, first and second actuators, and a control unit that moves the steering wheel between a storage area and operational position, initiating synchronous control before reaching the normal position to align the wheel's rotation with the steered wheels' angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If synchronous control is performed after the operation member reaches the normal position, then the rotational position can be aligned with the steered wheels, but the driver experiences long wait time and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit initiates synchronous control before the operation member reaches the normal position. The control unit determines that the operation member has entered a predetermined range before reaching the normal position, and starts synchronous control at this timing. This preliminary action allows the rotational position to be aligned with the steered wheels angle in advance, eliminating the driver's wait time and discomfort when taking over manual driving.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the operation member is stored in the storage area with fixed rotational position, then interference with other members is suppressed, but the rotational position does not correspond to the steered wheels angle when switching to manual drive
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit starts synchronous control when the operation member enters a predetermined range before reaching the normal position, rather than waiting until it reaches the normal position. This timing allows the rotational position to be aligned with the steered wheels angle in advance, so that when the operation member arrives at the normal position, the alignment is already complete, eliminating driver discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotational position of the operation member during its movement from the storage area to the normal position. The synchronous control continuously updates the rotational position based on the real-time angle of the steered wheels, ensuring that when the operation member reaches the normal position, its rotational position naturally corresponds to the current steered wheels angle.
Data Source
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AI summary
A steering system includes a rotary shaft (112) to which an operation member (110) is coupled; a first actuator (151); a second actuator (250); a control unit (190); and a moving unit (170) configured to move the operation member (110) between a normal position and a storage area (410). The control unit (190) is configured to switch between a manual drive mode and an autonomous drive mode. The control unit (190) is configured to, when moving the operation member (110) from the storage area (410) to the normal position, start synchronous control when the operation member (110) satisfies a predetermined condition before the operation member (110) reaches the normal position, the synchronous control being control in which the control unit (190) controls the first actuator (151) to change a rotation angle of the rotary shaft (112) to an angle corresponding to a steered angle of steered wheels (210) driven by the second actuator (250).