GB1431186A - Control system - Google Patents

Abstract

1431186 Controlling motor vehicles LABOBATOIRE D'ELECTRONIQUE ET D'AUTOMATIQUE DAUPHINOIS and F MAYER 23 March 1973 14256/73 Heading B7H [Also in Division G3] In a device, e.g. a motor vehicle, having one or more feedback loops by which functions are controlled in response to manual commands, a computer in the or each loop modifies the feedback signal according to the reaction of the human operator, as determined in an unspecified way from sensors influenced by the human reactions. As shown, a signal from a vehicle driver 13 actuated control member 20 is compared at 15 with a feedback signal from a transducer 24 coupled to a controlled element 23, modified at 13<SP>1</SP> which is said to be an "electronic image" of the driver formed by computer 12 in response to sensors 14 of the driver's reactions and/or parameters, and sensors 17 of parameters of the vehicle and/or external parameters. 16 is a store for the parameters; 13<SP>11</SP> is a fixed store of the driver's image and if 13<SP>11</SP> and 13<SP>1</SP> do not agree the system assumes it has the wrong driver and stops the vehicle. The effect of the modification of the feedback signal is to limit the response of the controlled member to a value which is "safe" for the vehicle and its driver. The operation may be modified by a manual adjuster 18, e.g. to give a "sporty" or "family driver" characteristic. 25 ... 28 are indicator outputs. Lists of the sensed factors are given; examples in group 14 are frequency and strength of control operations (driver reaction), pulse beat and encephalogram (driver parameters), and in group 17 state of the brakes and quality of the roads. None of the sensors or their signals are described. In Fig. 2 (not shown), operation of clutch, brake, acceleration and steering are monitored by transducers whose signals are proportional to the rate of change of the operation and are differentiated and filtered by a lowpass filter and combined by addition or multiplication by a device (44) whose output represents "driver's inadequacy" and is displayed on an indicator and provides the control. The rate of change of this signal (i.e. improving or "getting worse") is also displayed. In Fig. 3 (not shown), the output of this device is modified by a vehicle speed or engine power signal and divided by a signal derived from the steering movements. If the result is below a threshold value the fuel supply is cut off and warning lights operated.