A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system may include a compressive loading assembly, a feedback actuator and a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column may operably couple a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column may include a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column. The feedback actuator may be operably coupled to the second end of the column. The feedback actuator may provide tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The feedback actuator may include a torsion bar substantially coaxial with the column shaft. The compressive loading assembly may be disposed at the second end of the column to operably couple the column shaft and the torsion bar under a compressive load when the column is joined to the feedback actuator.

A torque-angle sensor includes a torque sensing unit, an angle sensing unit, and a PCB. The torque sensing unit includes a signal input rotor and a signal output rotor. The angle sensing unit includes a driving gear and a driven gear that is fitted round and fixed to one of the signal rotors. The PCB has a torque magnetic field generating unit, an input shaft signal collecting unit, and an output shaft signal collecting unit that sense a rotation angle and torque of the signal rotors. The PCB has an angle magnetic field generating unit and an angle collecting unit that sense a rotation angle of the driving gear and the driven gear. The torque magnetic field generating unit, the input shaft signal collecting unit, the output shaft signal collecting unit, the angle magnetic field generating unit, and the angle collecting unit are configured as coils formed by printed circuits.

A torque-angle sensor includes a torque sensing unit, an angle sensing unit, and a PCB. The torque sensing unit includes a signal input rotor and a signal output rotor. The angle sensing unit includes a driving gear and a driven gear that is fitted round and fixed to one of the signal rotors. The PCB has a torque magnetic field generating unit, an input shaft signal collecting unit, and an output shaft signal collecting unit that sense a rotation angle and torque of the signal rotors. The PCB has an angle magnetic field generating unit and an angle collecting unit that sense a rotation angle of the driving gear and the driven gear. The torque magnetic field generating unit, the input shaft signal collecting unit, the output shaft signal collecting unit, the angle magnetic field generating unit, and the angle collecting unit are configured as coils formed by printed circuits.

A position-torque sensor system includes two angle sensors configured to detect a rotational movement. Each of the two angle sensors includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor is rotatable in response to the rotational movement to provide a rotor rotational movement and is rotatable relative to the stator. The stator includes an excitation coil and a set of receiving coils that generate output signals indicative of the rotor rotational movement. The sets of receiving coils of the stators of the two angle sensors are structurally same and the rotors of the two angle sensors are structurally the same.

A vehicle is capable of disabling autonomous driving by identifying whether an intervention of a user has occurred during autonomous driving. The vehicle includes a steering wheel, a first sensor device configured to detect a steering torque of the steering wheel, a steering angle of the steering wheel, and a steering angular velocity of the steering wheel, and a second sensor device configured to detect a touch of a user applied to the steering wheel. When the vehicle travels in an emergency control state in which a deceleration/acceleration speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined first value during autonomous driving, if the touch of the user on the steering wheel is detected through the second sensor device, the emergency control state is disabled under certain conditions, and if the steering torque is greater than or equal to a predetermined torque value, autonomous driving is disabled.

A vehicle is capable of disabling autonomous driving by identifying whether an intervention of a user has occurred during autonomous driving. The vehicle includes a steering wheel, a first sensor device configured to detect a steering torque of the steering wheel, a steering angle of the steering wheel, and a steering angular velocity of the steering wheel, and a second sensor device configured to detect a touch of a user applied to the steering wheel. When the vehicle travels in an emergency control state in which a deceleration/acceleration speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined first value during autonomous driving, if the touch of the user on the steering wheel is detected through the second sensor device, the emergency control state is disabled under certain conditions, and if the steering torque is greater than or equal to a predetermined torque value, autonomous driving is disabled.

Techniques are described for transitioning control of a steering system from an autonomous mode in a vehicle to a driver-controlled mode where the driver can control the steering wheel of the steering system. A method includes receiving values that describe an amount of torque and a direction of torque in response to a torque applied to a steering wheel of a steering system operated in an autonomous mode, determining that the values are either greater than or equal to a threshold value or are less than or equal to a negative of the threshold value, determining that the values are measured over a period of time greater than or equal to a pre-determined amount of time, and transitioning the steering system from being operated in the autonomous mode to being operated in a driver-controlled mode in which the steering system is under manual control.

Techniques are described for transitioning control of a steering system from an autonomous mode in a vehicle to a driver-controlled mode where the driver can control the steering wheel of the steering system. A method includes receiving values that describe an amount of torque and a direction of torque in response to a torque applied to a steering wheel of a steering system operated in an autonomous mode, determining that the values are either greater than or equal to a threshold value or are less than or equal to a negative of the threshold value, determining that the values are measured over a period of time greater than or equal to a pre-determined amount of time, and transitioning the steering system from being operated in the autonomous mode to being operated in a driver-controlled mode in which the steering system is under manual control.

Systems and methods are provided for influential control over a driver's operation of a vehicle's steering wheel. Upon issuing an autonomous control signal to control motive operation of the vehicle, an autonomous control system of the vehicle may reinforce or influence the application of the autonomous control signal by inducing or cuing to induce the driver's hand(s) to turn the vehicle's steering wheel in a particular direction or by a particular amount/with a particular level of torque.

Systems and methods are provided for influential control over a driver's operation of a vehicle's steering wheel. Upon issuing an autonomous control signal to control motive operation of the vehicle, an autonomous control system of the vehicle may reinforce or influence the application of the autonomous control signal by inducing or cuing to induce the driver's hand(s) to turn the vehicle's steering wheel in a particular direction or by a particular amount/with a particular level of torque.