Vehicle steering arrangement and method of making same

Abstract

A single vehicle steering arrangement is provided. The steering arrangement includes a steering wheel and at least one human machine interface configured to allow a human to steer the vehicle, the human machine interface being a component separate from the steering wheel.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed: 
     
         1 . A steering arrangement for a vehicle, comprising:
 a steering wheel; and   at least one human machine interface comprising a joystick for allowing a human to steer the vehicle, the human machine interface being a component separate from the steering wheel.   
     
     
         2 . A steering system for an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle comprising:
 a steering wheel providing directional control of the autonomous vehicle in a first condition, the steering wheel moveable between an extended position and a retracted position;   a human machine interface providing directional control of the autonomous vehicle in a second condition, the human machine interface located closer in proximity to a hand of a human operator relative to a distance between the steering wheel in the retracted position and the hand of the human operator; and   an autonomous driving assist steering system providing directional control of the autonomous vehicle in a third condition, the third condition comprising an autonomous driving mode.   
     
     
         3 . The steering system of  claim 2 , wherein the first condition comprises a non-autonomous driving mode and the steering wheel being disposed in the extended position. 
     
     
         4 . The steering system of  claim 2 , wherein the second condition comprises a non-autonomous driving mode and the steering wheel being disposed in the retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The steering system of  claim 2 , wherein the steering wheel and the human machine interface simultaneously rotate in response to one of the steering wheel and the human machine interface being rotated. 
     
     
         6 . The steering system of  claim 2 , wherein the steering wheel and the human machine interface are independently rotatable relative to each other. 
     
     
         7 . A method of making a vehicle steering arrangement, comprising:
 providing a steering wheel having a mechanical operable steering linkage to a vehicle;   providing a steer-by-wire steering system in the vehicle;   operably connecting at least one human machine interface other than the steering wheel to the vehicle; and   connecting the at least one human machine interface to the steer-by-wire system.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising operably connecting the steering wheel to the steer-by-wire system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising maintaining operability of each of the steering wheel and the human machine interface during operational malfunction of the other.