Pinch detection for column adjustment actuators

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

• a controller configured to
• adjust a position of the steering column,
• determine a predicted velocity of the steering column,
• determine whether the predicted velocity is greater than an actual velocity of the steering column, and
• generate a signal indicating whether pinching is detected based on the determination of whether the predicted velocity is greater than the actual velocity, wherein generating the signal includes
• determining whether the predicted velocity is greater than the actual velocity,
• in response to a determination that the predicted velocity is greater than the actual velocity, determining an accumulated difference between the predicted velocity and the actual velocity over at least one of (i) a predetermined time period and (ii) a predetermined number of samples, and
• generating the signal based on a determination of whether the accumulated difference exceeds a threshold;
• and
• at least one actuator configured to, responsive to the controller, adjust the position of the steering column.

A processing device configured to execute instructions stored in memory to control a position of a steering column of a vehicle, the instructions comprising:

• adjusting a position of the steering column;
• determining a predicted velocity of the steering column;
• determining whether the predicted velocity is greater than an actual velocity of the steering column;
• and
• generating a signal indicating whether pinching is detected based on the determination of whether the predicted velocity is greater than the actual velocity, wherein generating the signal includes
• determining whether the predicted velocity is greater than the actual velocity,
• in response to a determination that the predicted velocity is greater than the actual velocity, determining an accumulated difference between the predicted velocity and the actual velocity over at least one of (i) a predetermined time period and (ii) a predetermined number of samples, and
• generating the signal based on a determination of whether the accumulated difference exceeds a threshold.