JP2017178145A - Auxiliary steering gear of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute easily steering operation in an emergency or the like during automatic operation.SOLUTION: An auxiliary steering gear 10 of an automobile 1 in which a crewman is seated on a seat 5 and operates a steering wheel 6 on the front has: right and left arm-rests 7 which are provided on the right and left of the seat 5, and on which the crewman seated on the seat 5 can rest his arm; right and left arm-rest bars 11 provided on each front end of the right and left arm-rests 7; right and left sensors 23 for detecting operation to the right and left arm-rest bars 11; and a control part 25 for controlling steering of the automobile 1 corresponding to detection of the right and left sensors 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an auxiliary steering device for a vehicle such as an automobile.

  In a vehicle such as an automobile, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an occupant seated on a seat operates a handle disposed on the front side of the seat, and thereby the traveling direction of the vehicle is controlled.

JP 2014-167726 A

  By the way, in vehicles such as automobiles, technical development for automatic driving has recently started. For example, it is desired that the vehicle can keep the lane and appropriately turn right and left toward the destination even if the driver does not steer the steering wheel. This can reduce the driving burden on the driver and contribute to safety.

However, unlike a circuit where entry is restricted, various events can be assumed on ordinary roads and highways where other cars and other objects exist, so until the driver can avoid steering the steering wheel at all Will require further technological development. In particular, in an emergency where an unexpected event occurs, it is expected that the driver needs to operate the steering wheel.
Thus, in automatic driving, it is important to request a steering wheel operation from the driver in an emergency.

  On the other hand, in automatic driving, the driver's attention tends to leave the driving. In particular, there may be a timing when the hand is released from the handle. If an emergency occurs while letting go of the handle, the driver must hurry to raise the arm and grip the handle, and then operate the handle. Such time loss can be a problem in a timely emergency.

  As described above, the vehicle is required to easily perform the steering operation in an emergency or the like during automatic driving.

  An auxiliary steering device for a vehicle according to the present invention is an auxiliary steering device for a vehicle in which an occupant sits on a seat and operates a front handle, provided on the left and right sides of the seat, and the occupant seated on the seat holds an arm. Left and right armrests that can be placed, left and right armrest bars provided at the front ends of the left and right armrests, left and right sensors that detect operations on the left and right armrest bars, and according to detection of the left and right sensors A control unit that controls steering of the vehicle.

  Preferably, the left and right armrest bars have a straight bar shape, and are erected upward at the front end portions of the left and right armrests.

  Preferably, the left and right armrest bars have an arc bar shape, and are erected upward at the front end portions of the left and right armrests so that the arcs of the left and right armrest bars are along a common virtual circle. Good.

  Preferably, the control unit validates steering by the left and right armrest bars during an automatic operation in which an occupant controls steering of the vehicle without operating the steering wheel.

  Preferably, the control unit may enable steering by the left and right armrest bars when the possibility of a failure is detected during automatic driving.

  Preferably, each of the left and right sensors detects an operation along the bar axis direction of the left and right armrest bars, and the control unit detects that the operation of the left and right armrest bars in the bar axis direction is upside down. The steering of the vehicle may be controlled on the assumption that the steering wheel is operated in the operation direction.

  In the present invention, left and right armrest bars are provided at the front ends of the left and right armrests, and vehicle steering control is executed in accordance with an operation on the left and right armrest bars. Therefore, the occupant seated on the seat can perform the steering operation of the vehicle by grasping the left and right armrest bars by hand without moving the arms on the left and right armrests. Even in an emergency, it can be easily handled with minimal time loss.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side perspective view of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a passenger's boarding state. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the auxiliary steering device for a vehicle according to the present embodiment. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the auxiliary steering device for the vehicle of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of steering control by the control unit of FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the auxiliary steering device for the vehicle of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an automobile 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automobile 1 is an example of a vehicle.

  An automobile 1 in FIG. 1 has a vehicle body including a front chamber 2, a passenger compartment 3, and a rear chamber 4. In the front chamber 2, a power unit such as an engine and an electric motor is arranged. A luggage space is provided in the rear chamber 4. The passenger compartment 3 is provided with two rows of seats 5 on which the occupants are seated. Further, operating members such as a handle 6, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal are provided in front of the driver's seat 5 in the passenger compartment 3. The handle 6 is provided so as to protrude rearward from the dashboard.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a passenger's boarding state.
FIG. 2A shows a riding state during normal driving in which the occupant operates the handle 6. The occupant seated on the driver's seat 5 extends his arms forward and grasps the front handle 6 with his hand. In this state, the handle 6 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. As a result, the traveling automobile 1 can turn right or left. The automobile 1 travels according to the operation of the occupant.

FIG. 2B shows an example of a boarding state during automatic driving that is not operated by a passenger. Compared to the normal operation of FIG. 2A, the seat portion of the seat 5 is lowered rearward, and the back portion of the seat 5 is reclining rearward. The occupant is in a relaxed posture with both arms on the armrest 7. Although it is common sense that such a driving posture should be prohibited even during automatic driving, there is a possibility that some occupants may take such driving posture during automatic driving.
And, in the situation where the occupant is in such a relaxed driving posture, for example, when a danger such as a collision occurs, the occupant must wake up, raise his arm forward, and hold the handle 6 Don't be. Then, the handle 6 must be operated on it. Unlike general circuit areas where entrance is restricted, various events can be assumed on ordinary roads and highways where other cars 1 and other objects exist. Not a few. Such time loss can be a problem in a timely emergency. In particular, if other things are taken care of, there may be further time loss.
As described above, the automobile 1 is required to be able to easily perform a steering operation in an emergency or the like during automatic driving.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the auxiliary steering device 10 of the automobile 1 according to the present embodiment. 3A is a right side view, FIG. 3B is a front view, and FIG. 3C is a top view.
On the left and right sides of the back portion of the seat 5, left and right armrests 7 on which an occupant seated on the seat 5 can put his / her arms are illustrated. The armrest 7 extends forward from the back.
Left and right armrest bars 11 are provided at the front ends of the left and right armrests 7.
The armrest bar 11 has a straight bar shape. The straight bar-shaped armrest bar 11 is erected so as to protrude upward from the front end portion of the armrest 7.
The occupant can hold the left and right armrest bars 11 with his left and right hands while keeping his relaxed posture with his arms placed on the armrest 7.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the auxiliary steering device 10 of the automobile 1 of FIG.

The control system in FIG. 4 includes an imaging device 21, a speed sensor 22, an arm rest bar sensor 23, a timer 24, and a control unit 25 to which these are connected.
FIG. 4 also shows a steering motor 26 that is a control target connected to the control unit 25. The steering motor 26 is provided in the steering device of the automobile 1 and is driven to be steered for automatic steering or the like.

  The imaging device 21 is, for example, a pair of imaging elements, and is provided forward on the roof or windshield of the passenger compartment 3 as shown in the figure, and observes the surrounding situation in front of the automobile 1 by imaging. The control unit 25 can identify an obstacle such as another automobile 1 in front of the automobile 1 as the surrounding situation of the automobile 1 from the captured image, and determine the possibility of the collision of the obstacle. Thereby, the driving | running | working condition of the motor vehicle 1 before a collision can be detected.

  The speed sensor 22 is fixed to the vehicle body, and detects the speed of the automobile 1 as the traveling state of the automobile 1.

  The armrest bar sensor 23 detects an operation on the armrest bar 11. The armrest bar sensor 23 may be, for example, a pressure-sensitive distribution sheet that is wound around the peripheral surface of the armrest bar 11. Thereby, the operation along the bar axis direction of the arm rest bar 11 can be detected by the change in the pressure sensitive position of the arm rest bar sensor 23.

  The timer 24 measures time.

  The control unit 25 executes automatic steering control or auxiliary steering control by the steering motor 26 based on the detection signals of these sensors.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of steering control by the control unit 25 of FIG. The control unit 25 periodically repeats the process of FIG.

  In order to execute the automatic steering control or the auxiliary steering control, the control unit 25 determines whether or not automatic driving is necessary (step ST1). For example, when an automatic driving start button (not shown) or the like is operated, the control unit 25 determines that automatic driving is necessary. In other cases, it is determined that it is unnecessary, and the processing of FIG.

  When it is determined that automatic operation is necessary, the control unit 25 starts automatic control (step ST2). In the automatic control, the control unit 25 controls the steering, speed, acceleration, and the like of the automobile 1.

  Further, the control unit 25 determines whether or not a warning is necessary (step ST3). The control unit 25 determines the possibility of a collision with an object existing in the front direction, for example, based on an image captured by the imaging device 21 and the own vehicle speed. If there is a possibility of collision, it is determined that a warning is necessary. Otherwise, it is determined as unnecessary.

  When it is determined that a warning is necessary, the control unit 25 validates the steering by the armrest bar 11 or the like during automatic driving and notifies the warning (step ST4). The warning may be performed by voice or display, for example.

After notifying the warning, the control unit 25 detects steering by the occupant (step ST5). This includes the operation of the auxiliary steering device 10 of FIG.
When a predetermined operation on the left and right armrest bars 11 is detected, the control unit 25 executes steering control according to the operation amount or the operation force (step ST6).
For example, when the operation of the left and right armrest bars 11 in the bar axis direction is upside down, the control unit 25 drives the steering motor 26 in the operation direction on the assumption that the handle 6 is operated in the operation direction. Further, the driving amount of the steering motor 26 is controlled based on the change amount of the pressure sensitive position in the armrest bar sensor 23.
In addition, for example, the control unit 25 may perform steering based on the operation of the left and right armrest bars 11 only when the force for gripping the armrest bar sensor 23 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the left and right armrest bars 11 are provided at the front end portions of the left and right armrests 7, and the steering control of the automobile 1 is executed according to the operation on the left and right armrest bars 11. Therefore, the occupant seated on the seat 5 can perform the steering operation of the automobile 1 by holding the left and right armrest bars 11 by hand without moving the arms on the left and right armrests 7. Operation can be handled with minimal time loss even in an emergency situation.

  In the present embodiment, the left and right armrest bars 11 have a straight bar shape and are erected upward at the front end portions of the left and right armrests 7. Therefore, the armrest bar 11 can be gripped while the lower arm is placed on the left and right armrests 7.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 25 validates the steering by the left and right armrest bars 11 during automatic driving in which the occupant controls the steering of the automobile 1 without operating the steering wheel 6. Therefore, steering control is not executed by an operation on the left and right armrest bars 11 at a timing other than during automatic driving. It is possible to prevent an influence during normal driving by a passenger.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 25 validates steering by the left and right armrest bars 11 when detecting the possibility of a failure during automatic driving. Therefore, steering control is not executed by an operation on the left and right armrest bars 11 at a timing when the possibility of a failure is not detected even during automatic driving. Even if the left and right armrest bars 11 are touched accidentally or for other purposes during automatic operation, the automatic operation can be prevented from being affected.

  In the present embodiment, each of the left and right sensors detects an operation along the bar axis direction of the left and right armrest bars 11, and the control unit 25 performs the operation in the bar axis direction of the left and right armrest bars 11 upside down. In some cases, the steering of the automobile 1 is controlled on the assumption that the handle 6 has been operated in the operation direction. Therefore, even if an operation other than this or an unintended operation is performed on the left and right armrest bars 11, the steering control is not executed. Even if the left and right armrest bars 11 are touched accidentally or for other purposes during automatic operation, the automatic operation can be prevented from being affected.

  The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications or changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a modification of the auxiliary steering device 10 of the automobile 1 of FIG.
In FIG. 6, the left and right armrest bars 11 have an arc bar shape. The left and right armrest bars 11 are erected upward at the front end portions of the left and right armrests 7 so that their arcs are along a common virtual circle.
As a result, the armrest bar 11 can be gripped while the lower arm is placed on the left and right armrests 7. In addition, since the left and right armrest bars 11 are in a state imitating the circular handle 6, the occupant can operate the left and right armrest bars 11 with the same feeling as the normal handle 6 operation.

In the above embodiment, the control unit 25 validates the steering by the left and right armrest bars 11 when the possibility of a failure is detected during automatic driving.
In addition to this, for example, the control unit 25 may validate the steering by the armrest bar 11 or the like at the timing when the automatic driving is started. Thereby, steering can be implemented by operating not the handle 6 but the left and right armrest bars 11 during automatic driving.

1 ... Automobile (vehicle)
2 ... Front room 3 ... Passenger room 4 ... Rear room 5 ... Seat 6 ... Handle 7 ... Armrest 10 ... Auxiliary steering device 11 ... Armrest bar 21 ... Imaging device 22 ... Speed sensor 23 ... Armrest bar sensor (sensor)
24 ... Timer 25 ... Control unit 26 ... Steering motor

Claims (6)

An auxiliary steering device for a vehicle in which an occupant sits on a seat and operates a front handle,
Left and right armrests provided on the left and right of the seat, on which an occupant seated on the seat can put arms;
Left and right armrest bars provided at the front ends of the left and right armrests;
Left and right sensors for detecting operations on the left and right armrest bars;
A control unit that executes steering control of the vehicle in response to detection of the left and right sensors;
Having
Auxiliary steering device for vehicles. The left and right armrest bars have a straight bar shape and are erected upward at the front end portions of the left and right armrests,
The auxiliary steering device for a vehicle according to claim 1. The left and right armrest bars have an arc bar shape, and are erected upward at the front end portions of the left and right armrests so that the arcs of the left and right armrest bars are along a common virtual circle.
The auxiliary steering device for a vehicle according to claim 1. The control unit validates steering by the left and right armrest bars during automatic driving in which the occupant controls steering of the vehicle without operating the steering wheel.
The auxiliary steering device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3. When the controller detects the possibility of failure during automatic driving, it enables steering by the left and right armrest bars,
The auxiliary steering device for a vehicle according to claim 4. Each of the left and right sensors detects an operation along the bar axis direction of the left and right armrest bars,
When the operation of the left and right armrest bars in the bar axis direction is upside down, the control unit controls the steering of the vehicle on the assumption that the handle is operated in the operation direction.
The auxiliary steering device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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