Adaptive Vehicle Step Control for Sidewalk Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle step devices are insufficient as they do not adapt to varying positional relationships between the vehicle and the sidewalk, leading to inconsistent deployment of the step, which can hinder easy boarding and alighting, especially when the vehicle is stopped at different locations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle step device with a drive controller that includes a sidewalk detection unit, a separation distance detecting unit, and a deployment amount setting unit, which adjusts the deployment length of the movable step based on the detected separation distance and height of the sidewalk to ensure optimal positioning and avoid interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the movable step is deployed with a fixed deployment amount, then the device structure is simple, but the step cannot adapt to varying separation distances between the vehicle and sidewalk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable step with dynamically adjustable deployment amount based on detected separation distance. The drive controller receives separation distance information and automatically adjusts the step's deployment position, transforming a static fixed-deployment system into a dynamic adaptive system that responds to varying vehicle-sidewalk distances
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback control by detecting the separation distance between the vehicle and sidewalk, then using this information to adjust the deployment amount of the movable step. The drive controller continuously monitors the separation distance and modifies the step position accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing conditions
2Ease of operation
If the movable step is deployed to extend further to reach the sidewalk, then the ease of boarding improves, but the risk of interfering with the sidewalk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the deployment parameter (deployment amount) of the movable step based on the detected separation distance. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system optimizes the step's reach to match the actual vehicle-sidewalk distance, ensuring sufficient boarding ease while preventing excessive extension that would cause sidewalk interference
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment amount is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing the movable step to adapt its extension length according to real-time separation distance measurements. This dynamic adjustment ensures the step reaches far enough for easy boarding when needed while retracting when the separation distance is small to avoid sidewalk interference
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle step device includes: a movable step that is provided in a door opening of a vehicle; and a drive controller that drives the movable step so that the movable step operates in deployment and storage directions. The drive controller includes a sidewalk detection unit that detects a sidewalk provided in parallel with a traveling road surface of the vehicle, a separation distance detecting unit that detects a separation distance between a side edge portion of the vehicle in which the movable step is stored and the sidewalk, and a deployment amount setting unit that sets a deployment amount of the movable step extending in a width direction of the traveling road surface from the side edge portion of the vehicle based on the separation distance. The deployment amount setting unit sets a deployment amount of the movable step to be larger as the separation distance increases.