Vehicle Steering Assistance for Towing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle operation systems lack effective assistance for steering in towing configurations, particularly when a first vehicle is propelled by a second vehicle, as they fail to accurately detect and respond to features in the environment to ensure safe navigation and alignment.
Innovation Solution
An operation assistance system for a first vehicle connected to a second vehicle, equipped with a sensor system that detects features in the environment and a controller that prompts a power assist steering system to execute steering commands based on these detections, allowing the first vehicle to steer towards or away from detected features such as lane boundaries or other vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor system and controller are added to enable autonomous steering assistance, then safety and navigation capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is designed to serve multiple functions: detecting lane boundaries, detecting other vehicles, and providing input for both steering control and alert signals. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each function, thereby improving safety while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the first vehicle's existing sensor system to detect features in the operating environment, and the controller processes this information to generate steering commands. This self-service approach leverages existing components rather than adding entirely new systems, improving safety while controlling complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the controller prompts power assist steering to execute steering commands based on sensor detection, then navigation accuracy and alignment are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced manual control
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of autonomous intervention based on detected conditions. The controller monitors sensor data and only prompts the power assist steering when specific features are detected, allowing manual control to prevail in normal conditions while providing automated alignment assistance when needed, thus improving alignment accuracy without permanently reducing ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously receives feedback from the sensor system about the operating environment and adjusts steering commands accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that steering corrections are made only when necessary to maintain proper alignment, preserving manual control while improving navigation precision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the system steers the first vehicle toward detected features, then collision avoidance is improved, but stability deteriorates due to frequent steering adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary steering adjustments to steer the first vehicle away from detected harmful features before a collision can occur. By detecting lane boundaries and other vehicles in advance and making proactive steering corrections, the system prevents collision risks while maintaining stable operation through smooth, anticipatory adjustments rather than reactive corrections.
Data Source
AI summary
An operation assistance system for a first vehicle that is connected to a second vehicle that propels the connected first and second vehicles includes: a sensor system of the first vehicle that detects a feature in an operating environment of at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and a controller that is in communication with the sensor system and that prompts a power assist steering system of the first vehicle to execute a steering command based on the sensor system detecting the feature.