Method and system for steering intervention by electronic power steering unit to prevent vehicle rollover or loss of control

A vehicle steering intervention system for preventing a loss of control condition or a vehicle rollover condition for a vehicle, the vehicle steering intervention system comprising:

• a driver input torque sensor for sensing a torque applied by a driver to a steering device;
• a steering angle sensor for sensing a steering angle;
• a vehicle speed determination device for determining a vehicle speed;
• and
• an electronic power steering unit including an electronic processor and a memory,
• wherein the electronic processor is configured to:
• determine a vehicle steering intervention threshold based on the torque sensed by the driver input torque sensor, the steering angle, and the vehicle speed, and execute a prediction model by:
• determining a steering angle gradient from the steering angle sensed by the steering angle sensor,
• determining a torque gradient from the torque sensed by the driver input torque sensor,
• predicting whether the vehicle steering intervention threshold will be exceeded within a predetermined time based on the steering angle gradient and the torque gradient, and
• when the vehicle steering intervention threshold is predicted to be exceeded within the predetermined time, reducing a power steering assist and/or providing a counter steer force to the steering device to avoid the loss of control condition or the vehicle rollover condition.

A method for providing steering intervention for a vehicle, the method comprising:

• sensing a torque applied by a driver to a steering device with a driver input torque sensor;
• sensing a steering angle;
• determining a vehicle speed;
• determining a vehicle steering intervention threshold with an electronic power steering unit based on the torque sensed by the driver input torque sensor, the steering angle, and the vehicle speed;
• determining a steering angle gradient;
• determining a torque gradient of the torque sensed by the driver input torque sensor;
• predicting, with a prediction model stored in the electronic power steering unit, whether the vehicle steering intervention threshold will be exceeded within a predetermined time based on the torque gradient and the steering angle grandient;
• and
• when the vehicle steering intervention threshold is predicted to be exceeded within the predetermined time, the electronic power steering unit is configured to reduce a power steering assist and/or provide a counter steer force to the steering device to avoid a loss of control condition or a vehicle rollover condition.