Actuator system for self-driving vehicles

• US 9,919,713 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Sautter, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweeney, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US15/223,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20170028992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/023 Avoiding failures by using redundant parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/04 electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0077 using redundant signals or controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00

Abstract

An actuator system for a vehicle is described that includes a first steering actuator, operated on a first on-board network of the vehicle, a first steering actuator control unit, operated on the first on-board network, for controlling the first steering actuator, and a second steering actuator, operated on a second on-board network of the vehicle that is designed to be redundant in relation to the first on-board network. In addition, the actuator system includes a brake actuator device, operated on the second on-board network of the vehicle, having a brake actuator and a brake actuator control unit for controlling the brake actuator. The brake actuator device includes in addition a second steering actuator control unit, operated on the second on-board network of the vehicle, for controlling the second steering actuator.

Claims

1. An actuator system for a vehicle, comprising:

a first steering actuator, operated on a first on-board network of the vehicle, and a first steering actuator control unit, operated on the first on-board network, for controlling the first steering actuator;

a second steering actuator, operated on a second on-board network of the vehicle that is designed to be redundant in relation to the first on-board network; and

a brake actuator device, operated on the second on-board network of the vehicle, having a brake actuator and a brake actuator control unit for controlling the brake actuator, the brake actuator device including a second steering actuator control unit, operated on the second on-board network of the vehicle, for controlling the second steering actuator.

2. The actuator system as recited in claim 1, wherein the brake actuator device includes a housing that accommodates the brake actuator and the brake actuator control unit assigned to the brake actuator, and the second steering actuator control unit being situated inside the housing.

3. The actuator system as recited in claim 1, wherein the second steering actuator control unit is at least partly integral with the brake actuator control unit assigned to the brake actuator.

4. The actuator system as recited in claim 1, wherein

the second steering actuator control unit and the brake actuator control unit each have a separate power electronics system, and the power electronics system of the second steering actuator control unit and the power electronics system of the brake actuator control unit are coupled to a common heat dissipation device.

5. The actuator system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second steering actuator are in the form of a common electric motor, a first set of windings of the common electric motor, supplied with power by the first on-board network, being assigned to the first steering actuator, and a second set of windings of the common electric motor, supplied with power by the second on-board network, being assigned to the second steering actuator.

6. The actuator system as recited in claim 1, wherein

the first steering actuator is part of an electrical power steering system.

7. The actuator system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second brake actuator device operated on the first on-board network.

8. A brake actuator device for an actuator system, the actuator system including a first steering actuator, operated on a first on-board network of the vehicle, and a first steering actuator control unit, operated on the first on-board network, for controlling the first steering actuator, a second steering actuator, operated on a second on-board network of the vehicle that is designed to be redundant in relation to the first on-board network, the brake actuator device comprising:

a brake actuator;

a brake actuator control unit for controlling the brake actuator; and

a steering actuator control unit for controlling the second steering actuator.

9. A brake actuator device for an actuator system, the actuator system including a first steering actuator, operated on a first on-board network of the vehicle, and a first steering actuator control unit, operated on the first on-board network, for controlling the first steering actuator, a second steering actuator, operated on a second on-board network of the vehicle that is designed to be redundant in relation to the first on-board network, the brake actuator device comprising:

a brake actuator;

a brake actuator control unit for controlling the brake actuator; and

a steering actuator control unit for controlling the second steering actuator;

wherein the brake actuator control unit and the steering actuator control unit are in the form of a common control device.

10. A vehicle having an actuator system, the actuator system comprising:

a first steering actuator, operated on a first on-board network of the vehicle, and a first steering actuator control unit, operated on the first on-board network, for controlling the first steering actuator;

a second steering actuator, operated on a second on-board network of the vehicle that is designed to be redundant in relation to the first on-board network; and

a brake actuator device, operated on the second on-board network of the vehicle, having a brake actuator and a brake actuator control unit for controlling the brake actuator, the brake actuator device including a second steering actuator control unit, operated on the second on-board network of the vehicle, for controlling the second steering actuator;

wherein the brake actuator device is a separate plug-in module.