Vehicle Control Touch Protection for Accidental Activation Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unintentional or accidental activation of mechanical and hydraulic control elements in autonomous vehicles poses a safety risk during autonomous driving, as objects or passengers can interact with controls like the steering wheel or brake pedal, leading to unintended vehicle movements.

Innovation Solution

A touch protection device, such as an enclosure or barrier, is designed to prevent unintentional contact with control elements by surrounding them completely, using materials like plastic, metal, or glass, and can be easily installed and removed to adapt to different driving modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If mechanical and hydraulic connections are maintained for manual operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to accidental activation risks in autonomous mode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual control accessibilityVSAvoidaccidental activation prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control element is divided into two functional parts: a first region that can be actuated by the driver and a second region that remains protected. The protective cover selectively covers the second region while leaving the first region accessible, allowing manual operation to continue while preventing accidental activation of protected controls during autonomous mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A protective cover is introduced as an intermediary element between the control element and the environment. This cover acts as a physical barrier that prevents objects or passengers from accidentally activating the control element while allowing the driver to intentionally actuate it when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If protective covers are added to prevent accidental activation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccidental activation preventionVSAvoidcontrol system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned in different states: covering the protected region during autonomous mode and being movable away during manual mode. This dynamic design allows a single structure to serve multiple functions without requiring complex additional systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover serves multiple functions: it acts as a protective barrier against accidental activation, maintains the mechanical connection integrity, and can be selectively positioned to allow or prevent access. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4711174A1Touch protection for at least one operating element of a vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.03.18 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a touch protection device for at least one control element of a vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle, which is designed to substantially prevent the actuation of the at least one control element during a driving operation, in particular an autonomous vehicle, wherein the at least one control element comprises a mechanical and/or hydraulic connection to a corresponding actuator of the vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle.