A vehicle control device 140 includes a body 145 fixable to a vehicle receptacle 110, with an engagement pin 155 on a side 148 of body releaseably lockable to a receptacle hole 130. A first electrical connector 185 on a first end 146 of body 145 is mateable to an electrical connector on the receptacle when the engagement pin is engaged. A steering wheel 165 is releaseably and rotatably engagable to a second end 147 of body 145. Device 140 may provide acceleration and braking controls as well as steering, and is particularly suited for providing manual control in an autonomous vehicle 100; in an example, a cap may be provided to cover receptacle 110, and a computer may deactivate an autonomous driving mode if the cap has been disengaged. Device 140 may provide steer by wire control.
Removable vehicle control
2018-08-29
Patent
Electronic Resource
English