Rotation control system for a steering wheel and method

Abstract

An autonomously driven vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an autonomous driver assist system configured to provide directional control of a vehicle during an autonomous vehicle driving condition. The vehicle also includes a steering wheel. The vehicle further includes a plurality of road wheels electrically coupled to the steering wheel and controlled by the autonomous driver assist system in the autonomous vehicle driving condition and controlled by the steering wheel in a non-autonomous vehicle driving condition.

1 . A rotational control system for a steering wheel comprising:
 a steering wheel switchable between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition;   a steering gear operatively coupled to a plurality of road wheels of a vehicle, the steering wheel and the steering gear electrically coupled to each other; and   a controller in operative communication with the steering wheel and the steering gear, the controller configured to control the steering gear independent of the steering wheel when the vehicle is in an autonomous vehicle driving condition, the steering wheel retractable to a stowed position during the autonomous vehicle driving condition.   
     
     
         2 . The rotational control system of  claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel is switchable between the rotational condition and the non-rotational condition during the autonomous vehicle driving condition. 
     
     
         3 . The rotational control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is part of an autonomous driving assist system capable of determining and controlling directional control of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The rotational control system of  claim 3 , further comprising a first actuator operatively coupled to the steering gear, the first actuator controlled by the steering wheel in a non-autonomous vehicle driving condition, the first actuator controlled by the autonomous driving assist system in the autonomous vehicle driving condition. 
     
     
         5 . The rotational control system of  claim 4 , further comprising a second actuator operatively coupled to the steering wheel, the second actuator providing tactile feedback to a driver in response to movement of the steering gear and the plurality of road wheels. 
     
     
         6 . The rotational control system of  claim 1 , wherein a driver manually switches between the autonomous vehicle driving condition and the non-autonomous vehicle driving condition. 
     
     
         7 . The rotational control system of  claim 1 , wherein a driver manually switches between the rotational condition and the non-rotational condition while the vehicle is in the autonomous vehicle driving condition. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The rotational control system of  claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel is displaceable to a horizontal position during the autonomous vehicle driving condition. 
     
     
         10 . An autonomously driven vehicle comprising:
 an autonomous driver assist system configured to provide directional control of a vehicle during an autonomous vehicle driving condition;   a steering wheel; and   a plurality of road wheels electrically coupled to the steering wheel and controlled by the autonomous driver assist system in the autonomous vehicle driving condition and controlled by the steering wheel when the vehicle is in a non-autonomous vehicle driving condition, the steering wheel retractable to a stowed position during the autonomous vehicle driving condition.   
     
     
         11 . The autonomously driven vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the steering wheel is switchable between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomously driven vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the steering wheel is switchable between the rotational condition and the non-rotational condition during the autonomous vehicle driving condition. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomously driven vehicle of  claim 10 , further comprising a first actuator operatively coupled to the plurality of road wheels and a second actuator operatively coupled to the steering wheel, the second actuator providing tactile feedback to a driver in response to movement of the plurality of road wheels. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomously driven vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein a driver manually switches between the autonomous vehicle driving condition and the non-autonomous vehicle driving condition. 
     
     
         15 . The autonomously driven vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein a driver manually switches between the rotational condition and the non-rotational condition while the vehicle is in the autonomous vehicle driving condition. 
     
     
         16 . A method of controlling a rotational condition of a steering wheel comprising:
 switching between an autonomous vehicle driving condition and a non-autonomous vehicle driving condition, wherein a plurality of road wheels are electrically controlled by a steering wheel in the non-autonomous vehicle driving condition and the plurality of road wheels are controlled by an autonomous driving assist system in the autonomous vehicle driving condition;   switching between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition of the steering wheel in the autonomous vehicle driving condition; and   retracting the steering wheel to a stowed position during the autonomous vehicle driving condition.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising displacing the steering wheel to a horizontal position during the autonomous vehicle driving condition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising determining when the rotational condition is to be active and transitioning a steering wheel angle to match a road wheel angle.