Steering-by-Wire Lane Change Control Without Turn Signal Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems require manual operation of the turn signal lever to initiate and execute lane change assistance control across multiple lanes, which can be inconvenient and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device incorporating a steering-by-wire-type electric steering device and a processor that enables lane change assistance control without manual operation of the steering wheel, utilizing an AR-HUD to designate target lanes and execute lane changes through steering wheel rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation of the turn signal lever is required to initiate and execute lane change assistance control across multiple lanes, then the control system maintains simple steering mechanism, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple manual operations required
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows the steering wheel to serve dual purposes: both as a steering control and as a lane change selection interface. When the steering wheel is rotated, the control unit interprets the rotation to automatically select target lanes without requiring separate turn signal lever operations, making the system self-serve the lane change selection function through the existing steering wheel
Solution Approach 2:
The steering wheel is given multiple functions: it serves as both the primary steering mechanism and as a lane change target selection device. The rotation of the steering wheel triggers both steering response and lane change assistance control initialization, eliminating the need for separate turn signal lever operations for each lane change
2Extent of automation
If the electric steering device is switched to second state where wheel is not steered when steering wheel is rotated, then lane change assistance control can be executed without manual steering, but the reliability of steering control may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The electric steering device dynamically switches between two operational states: the first state where steering wheel rotation directly steers the wheel, and the second state where steering wheel rotation initiates lane change assistance control. The control unit determines which state to activate based on the current driving situation and control mode, allowing flexible adaptation between manual steering and automated lane change scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
Before executing automated lane change assistance control, the system preliminarily switches the electric steering device to the second state, preparing the system for automated operation. This preliminary state transition ensures that when lane change assistance control is initiated, the steering wheel rotation is correctly interpreted as a lane change command rather than a manual steering input
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device includes: a processor; and a steering-by-wire-type electric steering device, which is provided at a vehicle, and which is configured to switch between a first state in which a wheel is steered when a steering wheel is subjected to a rotation operation, and a second state in which the wheel is not steered when the steering wheel is subjected to a rotation operation, in which the processor is configured to execute lane change assistance control, which controls the electric steering device so as to move the vehicle to a target lane selected by a rotation operation of the steering wheel, the target lane being a different lane from a travel lane in which the vehicle is traveling, when the electric steering device of the vehicle is in the second state and the steering wheel has been subjected to a rotation operation.