Method of controlling a dual joystick steering system

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

• receiving, by first and second joysticks disposed at first and second sides of a driver seat, steering inputs;
• detecting, by pressure sensors, support pressures of arms of a driver on armrests associated with the first and second joysticks;
• determining reliability of the steering inputs from the first and second joysticks based on the detected support pressures and vehicle driving conditions;
• generating a target steering angle based on steering inputs and the determined reliability;
• and
• controlling feedback actuators to selectively increase reaction torque to the first and second joysticks based on the steering inputs and the determined reliability.

A method of preventing unintentional steering inputs in a dual joystick vehicle steering system, the method comprising:

• monitoring steering inputs from first and second joysticks positioned on respective armrests of a driver seat;
• monitoring, by pressure sensors, support pressures applied by an arm of a driver to the armrests;
• evaluating whether a normal steering condition exists based on vehicle lateral acceleration, steering angles of the first and second joysticks, and a directional consistency of the steering inputs;
• when the normal steering condition does not exist:
• analyzing the support pressures to identify which steering inputs result from intentional driver control versus unintentional body movement;
• selectively controlling feedback actuators to apply corrective reaction forces to the first and second joysticks receiving unintentional inputs, and
• generating steering commands based on steering inputs identified as intentional inputs;
• and
• when the normal steering condition exists, generating vehicle steering commands based on an average of the steering inputs from the first and second joysticks.