Methods and systems for controlling steering systems of vehicles

A system for controlling the steering system of a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a detection unit configured to obtain one or more of the following values:
• a compass heading, a global positioning system (GPS) heading, a yaw velocity, and a tire angular velocity;
• and
• a processor coupled to the detection unit and configured to:
• determine whether the vehicle is on a straight line path using one or more of the compass heading, the GPS heading, the yaw velocity, and the tire angular velocities;
• activate a feature of the steering system if it is determined that the vehicle is on a straight line path;
• and
• disable the feature of the steering system if it is determined that the vehicle is not on a straight line path.

A vehicle comprising:

• a drive system;
• an electric power steering system coupled to the drive system;
• and
• a control system coupled to the electric power steering system, the control system comprising:
• a detection unit configured to obtain one or more of the following values:
• a compass heading, a global positioning system (GPS) heading, a yaw velocity, and tire angular velocities;
• and
• a processor coupled to the detection unit and configured to:
• determine whether the vehicle is on a straight line path using one or more of the compass heading, the GPS heading, the yaw velocity, and the tire angular velocities;
• activate a lead/pull compensation feature of the electric power steering system if it is determined that the vehicle is on a straight line path;
• and
• terminate the lead/pull compensation or maintain a level of lead/pull compensation torque based on previous learning if it is determined that the vehicle is not on a straight line path.