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Ford's Bringing Adaptive Steering To the Masses

Posted by Soulskill on from the power-power-steering dept.

cartechboy writes: "Most automakers have made the jump from hydraulic power steering to electronic power steering to help conserve fuel. By using an electric motor instead of a hydraulic system, less energy is drawn from the engine. Many luxury automakers have also introduced adaptive steering with the electronic power steering systems, but now Ford is looking to bring this feature to the masses. Adaptive steering builds on the existing speed-sensitive function of the electronic power steering system by altering the steering ratio and effort based on driver inputs and settings. The system uses a precision-controlled actuator placed inside the steering wheel. It's an electric motor and gearing system that can essentially add or subtract from the driver's steering inputs. This will make the vehicle easier to maneuver at low speeds, and make a vehicle feel more stable at high speeds. The system (video) will be offered on certain Ford vehicles within the next 12 months."

6 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Ghost in the machine by DigiShaman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Does that mean that if one of those actuators or logic board malfunctions, that it could steer a car into traffic? All it takes is for a few milliseconds and some force to jerk the wheel out of someone's hands. Or so I would imagine.

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
    1. Re:Ghost in the machine by perpenso · · Score: 4, Informative

      I'm pretty sure designers of fly-by-wire airplanes have already solved the problem. ;-)

      Yes, they had ejection seats for the first couple of decades of fly-by-wire. ;-)

    2. Re:Ghost in the machine by Grishnakh · · Score: 5, Informative

      Electric power steering works with sensors on the steering wheel that detect when you turn it, and how much. The car then does some calculations taking into account the force and speed with which you turn the wheel, and the speed at which the vehicle is traveling. It then activates a motor, which actually turns the wheels.

      No, it doesn't.

      EPS is little different from hydraulic power steering. The motor merely assists the driver in steering the car. There's still a direct mechanical connection between the wheel and the steering arms. The sensors on the steering wheel are detecting how much torque you're applying to the wheel, and use that and the road speed to determine how much assist to give via the motor.

      There's no clutch in normal EPS cars. These new variable-ratio ones, however, might just work that way.

    3. Re:Ghost in the machine by hackertourist · · Score: 5, Informative

      Depends on the implementation. BMW, for instance, uses a planetary gear set connected to the steering wheel, the rack and an electric motor. If the motor or the adaptive steering logic fails, the motor is locked and you get an ordinary constant-ratio steering system.
      Checking whether the steering output matches the input would take care of your scenario.

  2. Ghost in the machine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    No thanks, I'll keep my hand on the burger and cell phone and coffee and makeup and... where I'm in full control

  3. Re:I have a ford by LanceUppercut · · Score: 4, Informative

    No, you don't have "a Ford with adaptive steering". No Ford was ever made with the feature in question. Ford is just thinking about introducing it. You have a Ford with variable amount of steering boost. This has been around forever, even in hydraulic systems. But this is not adaptive steering discussed here. Adaptive steering requires variable steering ratio. Your Ford does not have variable steering ratio.