Systems and methods for steering wheel control during autonomous steering of a vehicle

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for maintaining a steering wheel position during autonomous vehicle steering. The systems include a road wheel actuator configured to turn wheels of the vehicle and thereby adjust a road wheel angle, a steering wheel actuator configured to rotate a steering wheel of the vehicle and thereby adjust a steering wheel angle, and a controller configured to, by one or more processors: maintain the steering wheel in a stationary position while the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode wherein steering is controlled by the vehicle, determine to switch from the autonomous mode to a manual mode wherein steering is controlled by a driver with the steering wheel, and perform a synchronization process configured to synchronize the steering wheel angle and the road wheel angle in accordance with a predetermined steering ratio by using the road wheel actuator and/or the steering wheel actuator.