Stowing Steering Column Two-Speed Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering column systems in vehicles are limited by safety and packaging constraints, allowing only a small axial travel range and speed, making them impractical for convenient stowage and quick extension in autonomous vehicles or emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A stowing steering column with a roof bracket, sleeve, and steering column shaft that allows a travel range of +90 mm to +110 mm and speeds of 20 mm/sec to 40 mm/sec, featuring a two-speed mechanism for standard and emergency situations, with a motor for axial adjustment and sensors for position determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the steering column is designed with limited axial travel to meet safety and packaging constraints, then occupant safety and packaging are improved, but the convenience of stowage and quick extension in autonomous vehicles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The steering column system transitions from a static, limited-travel design to a dynamic system with two distinct operational modes: a slow speed mode for normal stowage operations and a fast speed mode for emergency situations. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt its performance characteristics based on operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between safety constraints and operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the speed parameter of the steering column actuation based on the operational context. By implementing variable speed control with two distinct speed levels, the system can achieve both the safety required for normal operation and the rapid response needed for emergency situations or autonomous vehicle stowage, thereby resolving the contradiction between limited travel constraints and operational convenience.
2Length of moving object
If the steering column allows only small axial travel range, then packaging constraints are satisfied, but the capability for convenient stowage and quick extension deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic speed variation to compensate for the limited axial travel range. By operating at two distinct speed levels, the system can achieve effective stowage and extension capabilities within the constrained physical space, resolving the contradiction between compact packaging and operational productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for emergency or autonomous operations by having pre-programmed fast-speed capability ready to activate immediately when needed. This preliminary preparation ensures that even with limited travel range, the system can perform rapid stowage or extension when required, thereby maintaining high productivity within packaging constraints.
3Force
If the steering column moves at low speed for safety, then crash load management is improved, but the response time for emergency situations and autonomous operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The steering column system dynamically adjusts its speed based on the operational context, implementing slow-speed operation during normal conditions to manage crash loads safely, and fast-speed operation during emergencies or autonomous stowage requirements. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between force management and response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic or conditional speed variation, switching between slow and fast operational modes based on detected conditions. This periodic action pattern allows the system to maintain safe slow-speed operation during normal use while being capable of rapid response when emergency conditions are detected, thereby resolving the time-response contradiction.
Data Source
AI summary
A stowing steering column is provided for use with an autonomous vehicle that is capable of traveling at a slower rate of speed and a higher rate of speed, depending on the situation. The slower speed, that of about 20 mm/sec, is the “standard” speed that is utilized during regular stowage and unstowage of the steering wheel under ordinary conditions. The higher rate of speed is necessary in a situation where a possible impact event is sensed and the steering wheel must be extended back to the original design intent position in case the airbags need to be deployed or the vehicle operator needs to over-ride the system for an evasive maneuver. The slower rate of speed is preferably about 20 mm/sec while the higher rate of speed is preferably about 40 mm/sec.