Methods and apparatus to control a torque threshold for hands on/off detection

A steering system comprising:

• a steering wheel;
• a steering shaft operatively coupled to the steering wheel;
• a motor;
• a rack operatively coupled to the motor, the motor to drive a translational movement of the rack to pivot wheels of a vehicle;
• and
• an autonomous steering control system to:
• cause a first torque threshold associated with a first rotational direction of the steering shaft to be different from a second torque threshold associated with a second rotational direction of the steering shaft when a velocity of the rack satisfies a velocity threshold;
• and
• detect a hands off condition when a steering torque is between the first torque threshold and the second torque threshold for at least a predetermined period of time.

A system comprising:

• a steering wheel of a vehicle;
• a steering column coupled to the steering wheel;
• a steering shaft coupled to the steering column, the steering column to rotate the steering shaft as the steering wheel rotates;
• a rack operatively coupled to wheels of the vehicle, movement of the rack to steer the vehicle based on a determined path of travel;
• a motor operatively coupled to the rack;
• an autonomous steering control system to:
• adjust a first torque threshold associated with a first rotational direction of the steering shaft when a velocity of the rack satisfies a velocity threshold;
• and
• detect a hands off condition when a torque associated with the steering shaft does not satisfy the first torque threshold nor a second torque threshold associated with a second rotational direction of the steering shaft opposite the first rotational direction for at least a predetermined period of time.