METHOD FOR DETECTING A REVERSAL IN THE STEERING DIRECTION BY MONITORING THE TORQUE SUPPLIED BY A POWER STEERING MOTOR, AN APPLICATION OF SAID METHOD TO FRICTION EVALUATION

A method for managing a power steering system, including a step (a) of detecting a reversal in the steering direction which involves acquiring a signal, referred to as a "motor torque signal" (CMot), representative of the assistance force (Cassist) delivered by the power steering motor, then evaluating the time derivative (δCMot/δt) of the motor torque signal, then comparing the time derivative of the motor torque signal to a predefined variation threshold (Spic) in order to detect a derivative peak, greater than the variation threshold (Spic), that indicates a reversal in the steering direction. The method next includes a friction evaluation step (b) which involves evaluating the friction from the drop, during the reversal in the steering direction, in a so-called "actuation force signal" (Caction), which is representative of the total actuation force exerted together on the power steering by the driver and by the power steering motor.