Optimal Design of a Magneto-Rheological Tactile Feedback Device for Automotive Applications

It is widely recognized that automotive Steer-by-Wire (SbW) systems offer several potential advantages over traditional mechanical steering systems, including improved safety, increased fuel efficiency, and greater design flexibility. However, there is no mechanism in SbW systems for tactile feedback to drivers. Therefore, the idea of this study work is to design a magneto-rheological (MR) tactile feedback device (TFD) for automotive applications to improve responsive steering. The MRTFD features a new tooth-shaped configuration that possesses advantageous characteristics as compared to previously proposed ones. By adjusting the applied magnetic field intensity, the produced haptic torque can be reliably controlled at differential thresholds that human can distinguish. After an overview of SbW systems, the tooth-shaped MRTFD configuration is presented. An optimization procedure using finite element method (FEM) is then conducted for the MRTFD design, considering the dynamic range, power consumption, maximum feedback torque, and installability. From the obtained solutions, the optimal results of the proposed MRTFD are presented with detailed discussions.