Active Steering

Active Steering

Active steering is an automotive technology utilised by BMW which varies the degree that the wheels turn in response to the steering wheel. At lower speeds, this technology reduces the amount that the steering wheel must be turned -- improving performance in situations such as parking and other urban area traffic maneuvers. At higher speeds, the performance is such that steering becomes more responsive and provides improved directional stability.

In a parking situation, the computer varies the ratio so that the steering wheel needs less than two turns to move the wheels lock to lock. As vehicle speeds increase, the steering ratio increases, so it takes more turns of the steering wheel to move the wheels and increases vehicle stability. Besides providing variable steering ratios, the computer is linked with the vehicle stability control system to aid in directional stability of the vehicle.

If the driver experiences a skid or slide because of poor road conditions, the Active Steering will react to information from the yaw rate sensors to modify the steering angle of the front wheels to stabilize the vehicle. This occurs much faster than the driver can react. If the Active Steering angle is not enough, then the Stability Control system intervenes to help as well. Safety is one of the prime objectives of this system. Steering angle sensors on the steering column sense the direction the driver wants to go and the system only intervenes if the car is beyond stable limits. If an error or problem occurs in the electronics, the computer shuts down the operation of the electric motor, locking the ring gear of the planetary gear set and making it fixed ratio steering. Finally, if there is a problem inside the planetary gear unit (an unlikely scenario), there is a second shaft that runs all the way through from the steering wheel shaft to the steering rack so that conventional steering is available.

External links

; Official sites
* [http://www.active-steering.com BMW Active Steering] — BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Nick Heidfeld explains the innovative active steering technology.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Steering system — may relate to:* Steering * Steering wheel * Active Steering * Electric Power Steering * Power steering …   Wikipedia

  • Active optics — is a relatively new technology for reflecting telescopes developed in the 1980s, which has more recently enabled the construction of a generation of telescopes with 8 metre primary mirrors. Active optics works by actively adjusting the telescope… …   Wikipedia

  • Active suspension — Active or adaptive suspension is an automotive technology that controls the vertical movement of the wheels with an onboard system rather than the movement being determined entirely by the road surface. The system virtually eliminates body roll… …   Wikipedia

  • Active Yaw Control — (AYC) is an automobile feature that uses an active differential to transfer torque to the wheels that have the best grip on the road. Unlike traditional mechanical limited slip differentials, an AYC is electronically controlled.… …   Wikipedia

  • Steering — For other uses, see Steering (disambiguation). Part of car steering mechanism: tie rod, steering arm, king pin axis (using ball joints). Steering is the term applied to the collection of components, linkages, etc. which will allow a vessel (ship …   Wikipedia

  • Active Safety — The term Active Safety can be used in two distinct ways. The first, mainly used in the US, refers to safety systems that help avoid accidents, such as good steering and brakes. In this context, passive safety refers to features that help reduce… …   Wikipedia

  • active safety — The opposite of passive safety. Passive safety involves seat belts, airbags, bumpers, etc. so that in the event of an accident the passengers are protected. Active safety involves factors which will assist the driver in avoiding an accident. They …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • Power steering — helps drivers steer vehicles by augmenting steering effort of the steering wheel. It does this by adding controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver needs to provide only modest effort regardless of conditions. In particular, power …   Wikipedia

  • Space Development Steering Committee — The Space Development Steering Committee, founded in 2006, includes the second astronaut on the moon, Buzz Aldrin, the sixth astronaut on the moon, Edgar Mitchell, the Chief of the Future Science and Technology Exploration Branch of the US Air… …   Wikipedia

  • Semi-active radar homing — Semi active radar homing, or SARH, is a common type of missile guidance system, perhaps the most common type for longer range air to air and surface to air missile systems. The name refers to the fact that the missile itself is only a passive… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”