Towed Vehicle Steering Coordination for Reverse Parking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of efficiently parking electrified vehicles coupled together for vehicle-to-vehicle energy transfer is exacerbated by difficulties in reverse maneuvering due to steering interactions, poor visibility, and lack of experience, which can result in uneven tire wear, energy waste, or collision risks.
Innovation Solution
A communication link between the vehicles enables a first controller to initiate a reverse parking maneuver by designating one vehicle as an active steering vehicle and the other as a passive steering vehicle with an electrically-controlled steering actuator, monitoring the active steering vehicle's turns and commanding assistive steering angles to the passive vehicle, thereby facilitating coordinated reverse parking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual reverse parking maneuver is performed by driver, then driver has full control over steering, but steering coordination between coupled vehicles is difficult resulting in uneven tire wear, energy waste, or collision risks
Solution Approach 1:
A controller system acts as an intermediary between the two vehicles, receiving steering input from one vehicle and automatically coordinating the steering of the other vehicle through electronic communication and electrically-controlled steering actuators, eliminating the need for manual coordination by drivers
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical steering coordination system is replaced with an electronic control system that uses communication links and electrically-controlled steering actuators to automatically coordinate steering between the leading and trailing vehicles during reverse parking maneuvers
2Ease of operation
If leading vehicle steers during reverse maneuver, then propulsion control is maintained, but visibility is poor and steering precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The controller system serves as an intermediary that receives steering inputs from the driver and automatically calculates and executes the corresponding steering angle for the other vehicle, providing precise steering coordination that would be difficult to achieve manually
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the steering state of both vehicles and adjusts the steering actuator commands in real-time based on the actual turning behavior, ensuring accurate coordination and preventing jackknifing conditions
3Reliability
If electrically-controlled steering actuator is used in passive steering vehicle, then steering coordination is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller system performs multiple functions including monitoring steering states, calculating assistive steering angles, commanding steering actuators, and preventing jackknifing, consolidating these functions into an integrated system that manages both vehicles' steering coordination
Data Source
AI summary
Leading and trailing electrified vehicles are coupled together in a towing arrangement for in-flight transfer of an electrical charge between their battery systems. With the vehicles connected by a towing device, a parking maneuver is initiated in which the trailing vehicle leads the leading vehicle. For the parking maneuver, one of the vehicles is designated (e.g., automatically or by driver agreement) to be an active steering vehicle and the other vehicle to be a passive steering vehicle. At least the passive steering vehicle comprises an electrically-controlled steering actuator. During movement, a turning (e.g., steering angle) of the active steering vehicle is monitored. Based on the turning of the active steering vehicle, an assistive steering angle is determined for the passive steering vehicle. The electrically-controlled steering actuator is commanded according to the assistive steering angle. The parking maneuver may be reverse or forward.