Automated Software Solution for Motorized Car Doors with Advanced Safety and Performance Features

Overview

With the increasing demand for enhanced user experience, power doors have gained popularity in the automobile industry. However, ensuring the safety and functionality of these doors requires careful consideration of motor control, user interaction, and safety measures. To achieve this, it is necessary to integrate specific sensing systems such as hall sensors, radar, and cameras for detecting pedestrians and objects. By implementing such measures, users can enjoy the convenience of power doors without compromising their safety.

Objectives

The project aimed to develop a software solution that would automate the operation of motorized car doors. The software was designed to enable the doors to open and close automatically, detect obstacles in their path, and determine the closest obstacle in the event of multiple obstructions. Additionally, the software was engineered to implement anti-pinch control and stop the door’s swing in the event of an obstruction. The system also had the capability to detect whether the car was on a slope and adjust the motor’s power output accordingly. The motor control was achieved by PID control, which enabled the input speed to be adjusted based on the detection status.

Approach

– Conducted extensive research on various hardware and algorithms used for multi-object detection in the current market. Based on the analysis, the radar was selected over mainstream options such as LiDAR and ultrasonic sensors.
– Developed an anti-collision algorithm using MATLAB, drawing inspiration from leading companies like Tesla.
– Explored the available hardware and detection algorithms for anti-pinch control and ultimately selected force-sensitive resistor (FSR) sensors.
– Modeled the door motor using Simulink, a MATLAB extension, and implemented a PID controller with a base desired speed to ensure optimal performance.
– Tuned the PID controller to achieve the desired speed and maintain stability in the presence of any disturbances.
– Integrated the different systems and programmed the motor to automatically halt (with a desired speed of zero) upon detection of any potential danger.

Outcomes

– Utilized MATLAB code and Simulink models to develop effective algorithms and control systems for preventing collisions and accidents in motor-driven doors, which were successfully implemented.
– Maintained detailed documentation of the project’s progress and code to facilitate future work and improvements by SJTU.