The steering wheel has been one of the advancements that have been made in the motor vehicle industry. However, the steering wheel as we know it today has had various developments over the years. This essay will clearly table the rich history of the modern day steering wheel and further compare it to its predecessors. In order to be able to understand the developments in the modern day steering wheel and particularly the electronic control steering, it is important to understand the history of the hydraulic control.
The Evolution of Electronic Control for Steering
Once man developed the wheel and was able to make the machines, there was need for him to be able to come up with a handle that would enable him to control these machines. This led to the development of the steering wheel which was meant to help the driver to be able to control the locomotive. The steering wheel was developed to function in the same manner as the tiller which was developed to enable the sailors to be able to steer their boats. However, once the locomotives were developed in the late 19th century, the need for a steering system was born and with this came the need for a steering wheel which would give the driver the capability to control the vehicles. During this point in time, the steering wheel was made of wood and was used by the driver to control the vehicle. However, at this was not effective and controlling the vehicle was considered to be an art due to the friction and the vehicle not responding to the commands of the driver. This led to a need for the betterment of this way of steering.
The late 19th century was a period of industrialization in the European nation and hence mechanization was a key component of the machines that were made in this era. This led to the scientists and mechanics to look for new ways of coming up with better and more efficient forms of steering the vehicles. These developments may be considered to be the direct predecessors of the electronic steering wheel as we know it today. This may be referred as the first power steering. The first power steering to be developed was developed by G.W. Fitts who made a steering system that was meant to enable the driver to have an easier time steering the vehicle with the help of a vacuum steering system. This led to him being taking a patent for the production of vehicles with this form of electronic-based steering system but this was not so since there was no production that occurred.
In 1902, Fredrick W. Lanchester then went ahead to take a patent on the hydraulic power system which may be considered to be the precursor of the conventional power steering known today. However, no vehicle was produced with this form of steering system as desired. In 1903, the first form of electronic controlled power system was placed in a 5-ton truck as a prototype to see how it worked. However, this was different from the steering system known today due to the fact that it had a distinct electronic motor which was then meant to enable the driver to have an easier time turning the front wheels. After the First World War, it was evident that there was need to better the way the various vehicles were navigated and various projects were set in place in order to address this issue. In 1926, the idea developed by Fredrick W. Lanchester was then put into place by Fredrick Davis (Brunnschweiler, 2005). They developed plans for locomotives that would make it easier for the driver to be able to control the vehicle using the hydraulic system. This idea was seen to be workable but could not be put in place in the vehicles, due to the cost issue. This is led to the production of the electronic controlled steering wheels from being brought into the market.
However, when the Second World War erupted, it went with no say that there was a need for the betterment of the machineries that were being used by the different parties. One of these advancements was the use of the hydraulic system to steer the military vehicles and tanks. With this success and realization of the fact that it was able to be used in the vehicles, there was a need to commercialize Davis’ idea. This led to the development of the first vehicle with this hydraulic steering system in 1951 by Chrysler Corporation which was then followed by their competitors for example, General motors to have in place vehicles with this form of electronic steering systems (Brunnschweiler, 2005). This form of steering was seen not to be the best hence in 1958; various improvements to the patent were filled.
These improvements over the years paved way to various improvements in the way the hydraulic steering systems were constricted. One of these improvements was the development of the electro-hydraulic steering systems in 1965. This is a steering system where the vehicle is in most instances steered with the use of both a hydraulic system and an electric motor (Brunnschweiler, 2005). This meant that it would be easier and safer to turn the vehicles. This development was seen not to only bring a change in the way the way the power steering systems were functioning and developed.
This is since, the hydraulic systems that had been earlier developed function with the use of the re-circulating ball and the hydraulic pump. This then was followed with the change of the hydraulic systems with the rotary vane pump which was meant to ensure that the driver goes ahead to use lesser amount of effort in turning the vehicle. This capability was seen as an improvement and hence the vehicle was a positive move in the betterment of the steering system. The next advancement in the system was the rack and pinion steering system which was seen to be advantageous with a bid to reduce the weight that was being exerted on the vehicles. This is since the hydraulic pump was seen to be heavier and hence this form of hydraulic system was seen to fit best in the lighter and the rather spottier vehicles.
Once the society adopted the use of the electronic power steering, it led to the development of the various forms of Electronic power steering. This variation as mainly caused by the differing position of the motor that assist the driver when he or she drives. This will include, the column assist type, which the assistance is brought about with the issue of all the parts being interconnected in one way or the other. The pinion assists type where the unit for power assistance will always be connected to the steering gear pinion shaft. Then there is direct drive type, where the unit for assistance together with the steering gear and conjoined to form one unit. Lastly, the rack assist type, which was developed in a manner that was rather similar to the direct drive type. However, this was meant to ensure that the support system that was workable in both full and mid-sized vehicles.
Safety issues of the electronic and the non-electronic controls
The question that is normally asked once an invention has been brought into the market is, is it safer than what we already have? There has been a constant debate of whether the electronically controlled systems are safer than the non-electronic controlled systems. This part of this essay will address the different arguments that have been tabled pertaining to the safety of the electronic controls.
Arguments for the Electronic systems being safer than the non-electronic systems
In addition, to this, the electronic system enables the driver to have a feedback on how he or she is driving, this in turn means that the driver will be able to know the various changes that may be required in order to enable him or her to drive safely and avert an accident. This is mainly through the sensors that have been fitted in the vehicle. These sensors are advantageous due to the fact that they go ahead to take into consideration the issue of the speed of the vehicle and the turning of the steering will always be accurate as compared to the non-electric systems.
Another argument is that by the fact that the electronic systems do not use the fluids as compared to the hydraulic power steering; the driver is safer due to the fact that in cases that the driver runs out of the hydraulic fluid or a fault in the fluid cylinder, the steering wheel will lock and hence leading to it working inefficiently. This inefficiency in most instances will lead to accidents hence endangering the life of the driver. Other than this, by the fact that the electronic systems will in most instances have sensors, then the vehicle will in most cases notify the driver of any problem that may be in the vehicle, hence the driver will be able to take the relevant steps to ensure that the steering system works efficiently.
With the fact that the electric systems were made with the aim of ensuring that the electronic assistance was only provided when demanded, it has enabled that the person
Lastly, by the fact that the electronic system uses less energy from the vehicle, it may be realized that the electronic power steering will be safer in the sense that it does not exert more pressure on the engine. This will mean that a vehicle with an electric power steering will safer in the sense that the vehicle can go for a longer duration as compared to the non-electric systems, which may lead to overheating of the engine and hence the possibility of the blowing up of the engine.
Arguments Against the issue of Electronic Systems being safer
Various arguments have again been tabled in a bid to show that the electronic systems are not as safe as it is depicted. Firstly, the fact the electronic systems are dependent on the electric energy produced by the car battery, it has been realized that this may at times reciprocate in the battery being drained of this charge. This means that this may come with its set of inefficiency and hence the vehicle may be unable to perform as expected and this may then lead to accidents.
Secondly, at times it has been realized that the use of the electronic steering systems would in some instances malfunction and this malfunctioning has been realized to cause the driver to lose control of steering the vehicle and this may lead to accidents if one is driving. This malfunctioning may also be caused by the issue of the system not giving back the adequate feedback that may cause the driver to be unable to turn effectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it would not be wrong if one stated that the electronic system of steering is safer as compared to the non-electric systems. This is since these defects have been realized to cause financial problems rather than it being a safety concern.
Reference
Brunnschweiler, D. (2005), Modern Steering Systems ATZ Worldwide. P.p. 7-10
Electronic Power Steering. (2015). Retrieved August 24, 2016, from The Clemson University Vehicular electronics Laboratory: http://www.cvel.clemson.edu/auto/systems/ep_steering.html
Rahman, M. (2009). Electric Power Assisted Steering System for Automobiles. Electrical Engineering, 1-9.
