IP Library Granted Patent US 11,235,802
Granted Patent B2
US 11,235,802 · App. 16/679,798 · Granted Feb 1, 2022

Enhanced vehicle operation

Inventors: Zhong Ren (Troy, MI); Lodewijk Wijffels (Northville, MI); Joshua Guerra (Farmington Hills, MI); Scott J. Lauffer (Northville, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B62D6/10B60W10/20B62D6/007B62D6/02G05D1/0061G05D1/0088G05D2201/0213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,235,802
App. No.
16/679,798
Granted
Feb 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to detect an actual steering column torque and an actual steering wheel angle, predict a steering wheel torque with a state-estimation algorithm that outputs a plurality of vehicle states including the predicted steering wheel torque, adjust the plurality of vehicle states based on an algorithm noise that is based on a steering wheel angular speed to generate estimated vehicle states, output the estimated vehicle states including an estimated user-applied steering wheel torque, and transition from an autonomous mode to a manual mode when the estimated steering wheel torque exceeds a threshold. The state-estimation algorithm accepts input including the actual steering column torque and the actual steering wheel angle and outputs the plurality of vehicle states.

Claims (37)

1. A system, comprising a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

detect an actual steering column torque and an actual steering wheel angle;

predict a user-applied steering wheel torque with a state-estimation algorithm that accepts input including the actual steering column torque and the actual steering wheel angle, and outputs a plurality of vehicle states including the predicted user-applied steering wheel torque;

adjust the plurality of vehicle states based on an algorithm noise that is based on a steering wheel angular speed to generate estimated vehicle states;

output the estimated vehicle states including an estimated user-applied steering wheel torque; and

transition from an autonomous mode to a manual mode when the estimated user-applied steering wheel torque exceeds a threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vehicle states include the steering wheel torque, an estimated steering wheel angle, and an estimated steering wheel angle speed.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the estimated steering wheel angle speed includes a time rate of change of the steering wheel angle and a steering wheel inertia generated by the actual steering wheel torque turning a steering wheel to the actual steering wheel angle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to transition from the autonomous mode to the manual mode when the estimated user-applied steering wheel torque exceeds the threshold for an elapsed time exceeding a time threshold.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to input the actual steering column torque, the actual steering wheel angle, a stiffness of a steering column, and a damping coefficient of the steering wheel to the state-estimation algorithm to estimate the user-applied steering wheel torque.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the algorithm noise is a covariance of a modeling error, the steering wheel angular speed, and a noise factor that is inversely proportional to the steering wheel angular speed.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to initiate the state-estimation algorithm with a set of predetermined parameters including a reference steering motor torque and a reference steering wheel angle.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the state-estimation algorithm is a Kalman filter.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the estimated user-applied steering wheel torque is a torque applied to a steering wheel by an operator of a vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to input a damping coefficient of a steering column and a damping coefficient of a steering wheel to the state-estimation algorithm to estimate the user-applied steering wheel torque.

11. A method, comprising:

detecting an actual steering column torque and an actual steering wheel angle;

predicting a user-applied steering wheel torque with a state-estimation algorithm that accepts input including the actual steering column torque and the actual steering wheel angle, and outputs a plurality of vehicle states including the predicted user-applied steering wheel torque;

adjusting the plurality of vehicle states based on an algorithm noise that is based on a steering wheel angular speed to generate estimated vehicle states;

outputting the estimated vehicle states including an estimated user-applied steering wheel torque; and

transitioning from an autonomous mode to a manual mode when the estimated user-applied steering wheel torque exceeds a threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of vehicle states include the steering wheel torque, an estimated steering wheel angle, and an estimated steering wheel angle speed.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the estimated steering wheel angle speed includes a time rate of change of the steering wheel angle and a steering wheel inertia generated by the actual steering wheel torque turning a steering wheel to the actual steering wheel angle.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transitioning from the autonomous mode to the manual mode when the estimated user-applied steering wheel torque exceeds the threshold for an elapsed time exceeding a time threshold.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the estimated user-applied steering wheel torque is a torque applied to a steering wheel by an operator of a vehicle.

16. A system, comprising:

a steering wheel;

a steering column connected to the steering wheel;

means for detecting an actual steering column torque and an actual steering wheel angle of the steering wheel;

means for predicting a user-applied steering wheel torque with a state-estimation algorithm that accepts input including the actual steering column torque and the actual steering wheel angle, and outputs a plurality of vehicle states including the predicted user-applied steering wheel torque;

means for adjusting the plurality of vehicle states based on an algorithm noise that is based on a steering wheel angular speed to generate estimated vehicle states;

means for outputting the estimated vehicle states including an estimated user-applied steering wheel torque; and

means for transitioning from an autonomous mode to a manual mode when the estimated user-applied steering wheel torque exceeds a threshold.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of vehicle states include the steering wheel torque, an estimated steering wheel angle, and an estimated steering wheel angle speed.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the estimated steering wheel angle speed includes a time rate of change of the steering wheel angle and a steering wheel inertia generated by the actual steering wheel torque turning a steering wheel to the actual steering wheel angle.

19. The system of claim 16 , further comprising means for transitioning from the autonomous mode to the manual mode when the estimated user-applied steering wheel torque exceeds the threshold for an elapsed time exceeding a time threshold.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the estimated user-applied steering wheel torque is a torque applied to the steering wheel by an operator of a vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2019
From: REN, ZHONG; WIJFFELS, LODEWIJK; GUERRA, JOSHUA; LAUFFER, SCOTT J.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 050972/0234 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210139075A1 · May 13, 2021