# US 11,999,425 B2 · Steering wheel actuation device and method for vehicle testing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,425 B2 - Document ID: US11999425B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/358,424 - Filed: 2021-06-25 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-25 - Assignees: Anthony Best Dynamics Ltd. - Applicants: Anthony Best Dynamics Ltd. - Inventors: Matthew James Hubbard; Tin Wah Chiu; Andrew Pick; Colin Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999425B2 ## CPC - B62D 6/008: {Control of feed-back to the steering input member, e.g. simulating road feel in steer-by-wire applications} - G01M 17/06: Steering behaviour; Rolling behaviour - B62D 1/00: Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle - B62D 1/183: adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access - B62D 15/025: {Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation (B62D1/28 takes precedence)} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A steering wheel actuation device, for example in ADAS testing, is provided. The actuation device can include a steering wheel actuator to selectively move during testing between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. The actuation device can impart an actuation force to a vehicle steering wheel in the engaged configuration, and can vary the magnitude of the resistance it creates to the turning of the steering wheel during testing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering wheel actuation device, for steering a vehicle in ADAS testing, the actuation device comprising: a steering wheel actuator, the steering wheel actuator comprising a belt extending over a plurality of spaced apart rollers, wherein the steering wheel actuator is mounted on an arm that is movably mounted such that, during testing, the arm is movable to move the steering wheel actuator between an engaged configuration for imparting an actuation force to a vehicle steering wheel and a disengaged configuration, wherein the steering wheel actuator is moveable about a joint and the steering wheel actuation device comprises a biasing member, the biasing member being arranged to bias the steering wheel actuator about the joint, to bias the steering wheel actuator against the vehicle steering wheel, wherein the steering wheel actuator is conformable to the shape of the vehicle steering wheel that it is in contact with so that the steering wheel actuation device can be used with steering wheels of different shapes, the belt of the steering wheel actuator contacting a rim of the vehicle steering wheel, in the engaged configuration, and the belt being conformable to the shape of the rim, and wherein the belt is not in contact with the rim of the vehicle steering wheel when the steering wheel actuator is in the disengaged configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering wheel actuation device of claim 1, further comprising: an engagement actuator configured to move the steering wheel actuator between the engaged and disengaged configurations. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The steering wheel actuation device of claim 2, further comprising: a control unit configured to control the engagement actuator so as to control the movement of the steering wheel actuator between the engaged and disengaged configurations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The steering wheel actuation device of claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to control the steering wheel actuator, in the engaged configuration, so as to control the actuation of the vehicle steering wheel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steering wheel actuation device of claim 1, wherein the steering wheel actuation device is configured such that the steering wheel actuator can engage the vehicle steering wheel to provide a variety of different levels of resistance to turning of the vehicle steering wheel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The steering wheel actuation device of claim 1, wherein the steering wheel actuation device is configured to vary a magnitude of a resistance it creates to turning of the vehicle steering wheel during testing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The steering wheel actuation device of claim 6, wherein the arm is movably mounted such that, during testing, it is movable to vary a pressure exerted by the steering wheel actuator on the vehicle steering wheel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A vehicle for vehicle testing, the vehicle comprising the vehicle steering wheel and the steering wheel actuation device of claim 1 arranged to actuate the vehicle steering wheel during testing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A vehicle for vehicle testing, the vehicle comprising the vehicle steering wheel and the steering wheel actuation device of claim 6 arranged to actuate the vehicle steering wheel during testing. ### Claim 10 A method of steering a vehicle during an ADAS test, using a steering wheel actuation device, the method comprising: engaging a steering wheel actuator with a steering wheel of the vehicle, the steering wheel actuator comprising a belt extending over a plurality of spaced apart rollers; imparting an actuation force, from the steering wheel actuator, to the steering wheel to steer the vehicle; and disengaging the steering wheel actuator from the steering wheel; wherein the steering wheel actuator is mounted on an arm that is movably mounted such that, during testing, the arm is movable to move the steering wheel actuator between an engaged configuration for imparting the actuation force and a disengaged configuration, wherein the steering wheel actuator is moveable about a joint and the steering wheel actuation device comprises a biasing member, the biasing member being arranged to bias the steering wheel actuator about the joint, to bias the steering wheel actuator against the steering wheel, wherein the steering wheel actuator is conformable to the shape of the steering wheel that it is in contact with so that the steering wheel actuation device can be used with steering wheels of different shapes, the belt of the steering wheel actuator contacting a rim of the steering wheel, in the engaged configuration, and the belt being conformable to the shape of the rim, and wherein the belt is not in contact with the rim of the steering wheel when the steering wheel actuator is in the disengaged configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, comprising: with the steering wheel actuator engaged with the steering wheel, varying a magnitude of a resistance the steering wheel actuator creates to turning of the steering wheel during testing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein varying the magnitude of the resistance includes varying a pressure exerted by the steering wheel actuator on the steering wheel.