tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post8303963977531559625..comments2024-02-23T11:23:45.971-05:00Comments on Lost Motorcyclist: Power Steering: Technology Marches ForwardLost Motorcyclisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08873504561959138792noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-37211928786433326882010-10-31T09:20:53.328-04:002010-10-31T09:20:53.328-04:00These days, no manufacturer would even think of of...These days, no manufacturer would even think of offering a car in North American without power steering. Even those little Korean base <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Econobox" rel="nofollow"><i>econoboxes</i></a> come with power steering.<br /><br />Gone are the days when Detroit offered their entry-level <i>Yank tanks</i> with unassisted steering - what we car jockeys used to refer to as 'Armstrong' steering. Manhandling close to two tonnes of Ford Custom into a narrow parking slot was quite a workout!<br /><br />However, the trend in automobile engineering is to eliminate the mechanical linkages between the driver and the vehicle. Doing away with those linkages - substituting <i>fly-by-wire</i> controls - reduces weight and cost, as well as providing opportunities for safety, performance and environmental (by eliminating fluids) benefits. <br /><br />As you mention, fly-by-wire has already been widely implemented for throttle inputs. Complete fly-by-war systems are in development (notably the Euro <a href="http://www.automotivedesign-europe.com/en/steer-by-wire-a-solution-to-many-design-challenges.html?cmp_id=71&news_id=222900816" rel="nofollow">X-by-Wire</a> project) with Citroën's <a href="http://www.citroenet.org.uk/passenger-cars/psa/c5/c5bywire.html" rel="nofollow">C5 by Wire</a> just one example of the future in passenger cars.Madeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593933575568389288noreply@blogger.com