News from Germany Friedrichshafen. ZF recently introduced a new steering wheel concept designed to support level 3 and above autopilot function. The system through the icon display with gesture control, to enhance the driver and vehicle Between the communication, and have advanced driver departure detection function.
Juergen Krebs, vice president of steering gear systems and driver's airbag engineering at ZF, said: "As ZF moves toward 'Zero Vision', it is critical that vehicle and driver interaction be achieved. As automation becomes more commonplace, Using advanced technology to improve driver safety and make drivers more aware of current vehicle control modes is particularly important.
ZF's new steering wheel concept is designed to use gesture control to trigger on-board functions that manufacturers can choose to intuitively operate through gestures that are commonly used on cell phones or other smart devices, such as , Tapping on the steering wheel surface can be activated by clicking the horn, double-clicking or clicking on the plus wheel rim to activate the indicator functions associated with this part of the steering wheel rim, such as changing the temperature control inside the vehicle, The accompanying icons and lights support and confirm.
The steering wheel has multiple screens to show the vehicle's current control mode, and a seven-inch LCD display at the center of the steering wheel rim shows whether the vehicle is being controlled by the driver or the vehicle itself. In addition, the steering wheel rim is also integrated An LED light strip, blue light for autonomous driving, white light for manual driving, red light for driver warning, etc. Other uses of the light belt include a yellow light indicating left or right turning, and vehicle manufacturing Optional business, the display of various conditions of the light or flashing lights.
In addition, the steering wheel also ingeniously integrated a variety of other features, including 10 in the steering wheel outer capacitive sensor can detect where the driver grip the steering wheel, the steering wheel in the inner one, can detect the driver Whether or not it's properly grasped This allows for precise driver-to-hand detection - helping to tell if the driver or vehicle is under control - which is crucial for autonomous operation at level 3 and above.
The special structure of the steering wheel has also brought new demands on the design.Due to the liquid crystal display is located in the steering wheel center, the driver side airbag can not be installed in the traditional position.ZF engineers designed a new concept, the airbag can be behind the steering wheel Unfolding through the rim and covering the display protects the driver in the event of a collision.
Krebs emphasizes: "ZF's advanced steering wheel concept is a significant step in autonomous driving and also contributes to driving safety and driver safety awareness." When we were preparing for Level 3 autopilot, In order to switch control between the vehicle and the driver is essential.I believe our new steering wheel concept can provide the driver with the clearest and most intuitive feedback on the condition of the vehicle.