Steering control system and method for autonomous vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018257702-A1
Application number	US-201815916993-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2018
Priority date	Mar 10, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A steering control system for an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle includes a steering input device accessible to a driver for providing steering control of the vehicle in a manual steering mode. Also included is at least one autonomous steering assembly for providing steering control of the vehicle in an autonomous steering mode. Further included is a plurality of road wheels controlled by a blended output of the steering input device and the at least one autonomous steering assembly during a transition steering mode.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1 . A steering control system for an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle comprising:
a steering input device accessible to a driver for providing steering control of the vehicle in a manual steering mode; at least one autonomous steering assembly for providing steering control of the vehicle in an autonomous steering mode; and a plurality of road wheels controlled by a blended output of the steering input device and the at least one autonomous steering assembly during a transition steering mode.

2 . The steering control system of claim 1 , wherein the blended output includes a target steering angle of the road wheels, the blended output determined by an algorithm stored within a control module.

3 . The steering control system of claim 2 , wherein the control module receives data from a plurality of sensors.

4 . The steering control system of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the sensors detects information related to at least one driver readiness condition.

5 . The steering control system of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the sensors detects vehicle dynamic signals.

6 . The steering control system of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the sensors detects vehicle environment conditions.

7 . The steering control system of claim 1 , wherein the blended output is determined by an algorithm contained within a control module, the algorithm simulating a clutch.

8 . The steering control system of claim 1 , wherein the blended output is determined by an algorithm contained within a control module, the algorithm simulating a differential.

9 . The steering control system of claim 1 , wherein the blended output is determined by an algorithm contained within a control module, the algorithm simulating a planetary gear set.

10 . The steering control system of claim 1 , wherein the transition steering mode ends prior to a zone required for the manual steering mode.

11 . A method of transitioning from an autonomous steering mode to a manual steering mode for an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle comprising:
controlling a plurality of road wheels with at least one autonomous steering assembly in the autonomous steering mode; and controlling the plurality of road wheels with a blended output of the at least one autonomous steering assembly and a steering input device operated by a driver during a transition steering mode.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the blended output is determined by an algorithm stored in a control module.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the control module receives data associated with at least one driver readiness condition.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the algorithm receives data associated with vehicle dynamic signals.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the algorithm receives data associated with vehicle environment conditions.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising gradually increasing manual control of the total steering during the transition steering mode.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising terminating the transition mode prior to a zone required for manual steering.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Klesing Joachim J
• Longuemare Pierre C
• Safour Salaheddine

Classifications

• B60W50/087

  where the control system corrects or modifies a request from the driver · CPC title

• B62D6/007 Primary

  adjustable by the driver, e.g. sport mode · CPC title

• B62D15/025

  Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation (B62D1/28 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/286 Primary

  Systems for interrupting non-mechanical steering due to driver intervention · CPC title

• B60W50/12

  Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation · CPC title