Tow-Hitch Steering Haptic Feedback for Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles with towable implements lack effective haptic feedback systems to prevent collisions during maneuvering, relying on acoustic or optical indicators that may not be intuitive for operators.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with an operator control providing haptic feedback, utilizing sensors to determine hitching and steering angles, and a control unit to anticipate potential collisions by adjusting the force resistance based on sensor data, preventing excessive steering angles to avoid collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic or optical indicators are used to warn the driver of potential collisions, then the driver can be alerted of the situation, but the warning may not be intuitive or effective enough to prevent collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The warning system is segmented into multiple independent haptic actuators distributed around the steering wheel, each providing localized tactile feedback. This segmentation allows different regions of the steering wheel to provide different types of feedback (vibration, pulse, resistance) corresponding to different collision risks, making the warnings more intuitive and actionable for the driver
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop feedback by continuously monitoring sensor data (hitching angle, steering angle, distance to implement) and providing real-time haptic feedback through the steering wheel. The feedback intensity and type dynamically adjust based on the calculated collision risk, creating an intuitive connection between driver actions and system warnings that enhances awareness and response effectiveness
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle is steered with a small radius curve, then the vehicle can navigate tight turns, but the distance between the vehicle and the towable implement decreases leading to potential collision
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting when steering inputs would cause the vehicle to deflect too closely to the towable implement. Before the collision occurs, the haptic feedback system provides resistance or vibration warnings that counteract the dangerous steering action, prompting the driver to correct the steering angle and avoid the collision entirely
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit performs preliminary calculations of the vehicle's deflection path based on current steering angle and hitching angle. By anticipating the future position of the vehicle relative to the implement, the system can provide early warnings through haptic feedback before the dangerous situation develops, allowing the driver to take preventive action
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle has an operator control configured to provide a force as haptic feedback, a coupling configured for hitching a towable implement, a sensor arrangement configured to determine at least one sensor value, and a control unit configured to anticipate a potential collision between the vehicle and the towable implement based on the at least one sensor value and to increase the force if a potential collision is anticipated.